OLDER ADULT SERVICES

Caring for aging parents

As our population ages, we are facing the increased responsibility of caring for aging parents or relatives. Many people find themselves sandwiched between the needs of their dependent children and the needs of dependent parents or relatives.

Care giving can take many forms: emotional reassurance, transportation, shopping, home maintenance, financial and medical management, monetary support and personal care tasks.

Here are some important facts. Only a small portion of the elderly live in nursing homes. Families provide 80% of the care received by frail elderly. Approximately 33% of employees are responsible for two or more elderly people. And between 30% and 50% of employees who care for an elderly person also have at least one dependent child at home.

Both women and men function as caregivers and both rank eldercare as extremely difficult and demanding. While eldercare can be personally rewarding, we know it can also place tremendous strain on caregivers, leaving them emotionally drained, financially burdened and physically exhausted.

We can help

If you are caring for an elderly person or want to learn more about it, consider talking with a specialist, one of our professional eldercare specialists. They can help you:

clarify and prioritize problems
develop a problem solving plan
identify resources within your family and community
evaluate financial circumstances and review insurance options
understand "advance directives," such as Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
find, arrange, and coordinate services
find support groups
show you how to tap the wealth of information in consumer health libraries on aging, health, retirement and community resources

Call the CONCERN: EAP toll-free (800) 344-4222 to speak with an eldercare specialist who will help you determine what you need, and locate the resources in your area. Then, you will be referred directly to providers and programs that meet your care and location requirements.

Or, submit a request for services online by completing the
Request for Services form provided.

Note: CONCERN: EAP's older adult consultation and referral services are free of charge to eligible employees. Employees are responsible for fees associated with the programs they select.