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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

WB Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau Offers a New Guide on Work and Elder Care [05/08/1998]

For more information call: (202) 219-6611

The U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau released today a new guide to help employers provide important information to their employees about the demands of the aging population and its ramifications on the workforce. Today, people are living longer and the elderly population is rapidly increasing. Therefore, employers must recognize the special needs of employees as they respond to the demands placed on them by elderly loved ones at home.

The new guide "WORK AND ELDER CARE: Facts For Caregivers and Their Employers" is intended to provide information to employers and employees about elder care assistance services. Today, an estimated 22.4 million U.S. households, nearly one in four, provide elder care. The process of providing elderly care can be exhausting as well as emotionally draining, forcing many caregivers to reduce their work hours or quit.

Although some men provide primary elder care for their parents, most often, women provide the bulk of care. Seventy-two percent of our unpaid caregivers are women who make accommodations in their daily schedule to provide elder care. Nearly two thirds of these women work full or part time and more than four in 10 are caring for children under 18 as well as an elderly relative or friend. On average, the woman is 46 years old, employed and spends around 18 hours per week caring for her mother or another loved one who lives nearby.

"Work and family issues are not limited to the young or infirm. Increasingly, employers have realized that assisting working women and men with their elder care needs fosters a more creative and productive work environment. By sharing best work practices in this area we hope to assist working families and employers to balance the demands of work, children, and in many cases, their elderly parents or loved ones." said Ida Castro, Acting Director of the Women's Bureau."

On this important day, before the eve of Mother's Day, the Women's Bureau recognizes and applauds the courage and strength of working women in the struggle to balance the demands of work and family. The new guide will offer information on the types of elder care assistance such as Geriatric Care Managers; Homemakers and Home Health Aides ; Companions/Friendly Visitors; Telephone Reassurance Systems; Respite Care; Daily Money Managers; Home-delivered Meals; Chore and Home Repair; Legal Assistance; Family and Medial Leave and Assistance with Financing Care. The guide will also include recommendations to help employers and other organizations assist their employees in coping with the demands of elder care. These resources will be provided on the Internet for free. The Website address for the new guide is http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb. Information can also be obtained by calling 1-800-827-5335.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.