Caregiving Solutions: Insights from the Trenches

By Gretchen Barry, Director of Marketing Strategy, BuddyIns

BuddyIns partners with several companies to provide value-added services related to long term care. One such partner is TCARE, an evidenced-based high-tech platform plus human-touch way to support caregivers and prevent their burnout. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Lindsey Niemeier (LN), head of strategy at TCARE, to get more insight into the current caregiver crisis in the workplace

Given that up to 25% of the workforce is a family caregiver, what should employers know about caregiver burnout?

LN - I think it’s important for employers to recognize that a larger portion of the workforce is providing care to someone over the age of 18 than they may realize On average between 20-25% of employees are family caregivers, however it typically is not talked about at work as they don’t want to be perceived as being distracted or disengaged, unable to take on more responsibility or a promotion, or potentially needing more flexibility and time away from work. If a group does not have a caregiver-friendly policy or program in place, there is more pressure for employees to manage these responsibilities on their own.

According to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, family caregivers comprise an estimated 22% of the U.S. labor force.

Your data certainly supports other reports I’ve seen. According to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, family caregivers comprise an estimated 22% of the US labor force. So, what are some of the challenges you see with employees who are caregivers for adult family members?

LN - First and foremost, in many instances family caregivers do not necessarily self-identify as a “caregiver,” so they are sometimes balancing a career, family, and everyday responsibilities plus caregiving on their own; without realizing there are programs to help them navigate the complexities of providing care This can lead to a significant amount of time and resources spent trying to identify how to access appropriate, high quality and cost-efficient services at the right place and the right time

Caregivers tend to internalize these pressures, leading to the higher rates of stress and depression, exhaustion, negative impact to their own physical health, and ultimately making tough decisions such as placing a loved one in a long-term care facility. They sometimes feel like they can no longer manage their daily caregiving needs or may even consider leaving their current employer in order to continue to provide care at home.

Why does this impact the workplace?

LN - When you are caring for a loved one, and depending on the care needs of the individual, you don’t just walk into work and leave the caregiving at home When an employer does not have a top-down culture that embraces and supports employees who are managing caregiving responsibilities, then these employees tend to feel isolated This is when we begin to see the disengagement rates climb, concerns about the ability to remain in a full-time role, reduced productivity, and distraction Depending on the industry, this can create other pressures within the team, such as needing to fill missed shifts, reassign work, or maintain high standards of safety which can be negatively impacted by exhaustion and distraction.

I would imagine that has other financial impacts as well. What impact can caregiving have on health insurance premiums?

LN - We have found that as caregiving responsibilities increase, the health status of the family caregiver tends to decline. They may miss their own doctor’s appointments, not follow their own medication adherence, or abandon exercise routines due to lack of time and energy This can lead to increased rates of high blood pressure, higher prevalence of prescriptions for anxiety and depression, and higher rates of obesity and other health concerns

When family caregivers are supported through a program such as TCARE, we are able to provide them with a care plan and targeted activities to support and mitigate these risk factors, so they can regain focus on their own health as they continue to provide care We like to say better care starts with self-care Maintaining the focus on the employee caregiver’s health results in improved health plan claims, risk factors, and ultimately premiums.

Is there advice you can give to an employer who finds out that someone on their staff is experiencing caregiver stress?

LN - When looking at providing caregiver resources, it’s important to communicate that initiative throughout the organization, and foster a culture that supports those with caregiving responsibilities This includes training for managers to understand what to listen for, which may help them identify when someone is caregiving This becomes the perfect opportunity to refer that employee into the family caregiver support program and position it as a commitment the organization has to embrace and support their employees who are caregivers at this critical time

What is the TCARE mission?

LN - Our mission at TCARE is to serve as many caregivers as possible; identifying their needs and providing tailored care plans and advocacy to prevent their burnout We support individuals as they navigate their caregiving journey and empower them to balance caregiving with their professional and personal responsibilities

What is TCARE's process once an employee reaches out?

LN - Employees access our service primarily through our digital platform but can also schedule directly with a specialist for more urgent support Once an employee is engaged, we encourage them to complete our proprietary, evidence-based screener to help us understand their current caregiving status, identify their leading factors to burnout, and provide a caregiver burnout risk score. Those identified at high risk are connected to a certified TCARE Specialist, who becomes their caregiver advocate and establishes an ongoing relationship, developing a personalized care plan for the caregiver to specifically address those leading factors, and reducing their risk for burnout We also leverage our mobile app to support ongoing engagement with all caregivers, provide selfnavigation resources, content, ability to manage caregiver tasks and responsibilities, and access to local services and resources

How does a program like TCARE impact the outcome for employers?

LN - We previously identified several ways caregiving impacts employers, and introducing a family caregiver support program works at addressing these factors and helps to reduce those risks to the employee, as well as the employer. From a policy perspective, many groups have implemented programs to support young, growing families, but many do not have policies or programs in place to support families caring for aging family members; caregiving programs support more inclusive benefits. Additionally, providing a robust and effective program that targets individual needs will support overall health improvement of the caregivers, physically, emotionally, and financially Finally, organizational outcomes such as improved productivity, reduction in time away from work or missed shifts, and improved retention and engagement of those working family caregivers support workforce optimization and financial objectives

How do you see technology helping caregivers in the future?

LN: Technology really enables tailored care delivery and the ability to meet individuals where they are. Caregiving is personal, and everyone’s experience will look different and could change at any moment. Intelligent technology and robust digital tools support improved engagement, predictive analytics to provide appropriate response to changing needs, and provide desired outcomes by reducing the risk for burnout

As more Baby Boomers require long term care, and many of them are without the financial resources to afford robust care options, more employees will face the prospect of caregiving Providing employees with tools to manage these responsibilities will go a long way to helping employers reign in the costs of absenteeism and burnout For additional information regarding caregiver support, please visit TCAREai For information on long term care planning for employers, read our Long Term Care Insurance Guide for Worksite