Eldercare and employed caregivers: a public/private responsibility?

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP, 2004) have reported that 21% of the U.S. population provides family caregiving services to someone over 18 years old. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of these caregivers provide care for someone aged 50 or older. The majority of caregivers work full or part-time, and nearly two-thirds of employed caregivers make work-related adjustments in order to provide care (NAC & AARP, 2004). This article examines eldercare issues of employed caregivers, identifies current public and private policies addressing caregiver needs, presents a process model to assist organizations in creating family-friendly workplaces, and suggests social work roles that support family caregiving.