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Working people who also care for the elderly
1Camden and Islington Community Services NHS Trust, Whittington Hospital, London, UK.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Fourteen percent of health authority workers provide care for elderly individuals. Support from employers and colleagues is crucial for these worker-carers to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Gerontology
- Social Work
Background:
- Many employees balance professional duties with caregiving for elderly relatives.
- Understanding the prevalence and needs of worker-carers is essential for workplace support.
- District health authorities face unique challenges in supporting their workforce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of outside work caring commitments for elderly persons among a health authority workforce.
- To analyze the support systems available to worker-carers and their care recipients.
- To explore potential workplace assistance strategies for employees with caregiving roles.
Main Methods:
- Survey of a district health authority workforce in South East England.
- Two successive postal questionnaires administered to assess caring responsibilities.
- Analysis of services and supports received by care receivers and caregivers.
Main Results:
- 14% of the workforce had outside caring commitments (17% part-time, 12% full-time).
- Worker-carers were typically female, older, part-time, and low-income, often caring for female relatives.
- Half of worker-carers received no statutory or voluntary support; family and friends provided primary assistance.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of the health authority workforce are worker-carers needing support.
- Workplace factors like supportive colleagues, flexi-hours, and part-time roles are highly valued.
- Enhanced attention to workplace environments is needed to support employees with dual caregiving and work roles.