Working Families and Eldercare: A National Perspective in an Aging America

• Published in: Social work (New York) Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 405 - 411
• Main Authors: Anastas, Jeane W., Gibeau, Janice L., Larson, Pamela J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01-09-1990; National Association of Social Workers
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Aging; Care and treatment; Caregivers; Community Services; Demographic aspects; Eldercare; Elderly; Employees; Employees' benefit plans; Employment; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Evaluation; Family life; Family members; Family Relations; Family Work Relationship; Female; Filial Responsibility; Frail Elderly; Geriatric Assessment; Home care; Home Nursing - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Men; Middle Aged; National Surveys; Old age; Old age assistance; Older Adults; Social work; State Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States of America; Working Women; Workplaces; United States
• ISSN: 0037-8046; 1545-6846; 1545-6846
• DOI: 10.1093/sw/35.5.405

The competing demands of employment and caring for a dependent elderly family member can create stress for families, and some employers are becoming concerned about the impact of eldercare on the workplace. This first national survey of workers examined the extent of eldercare and its impact on workers. In this article, the authors profile the employees who described themselves as caregivers, the older people they were caring for, the care they were giving, the extent to which they reported conflict between their work and caregiving responsibilities, and the workplace supports they would have found helpful in managing these roles. Women were devoting more time to caregiving and were more likely to report work and caregiving conflict than were men. Social workers in occupational and community settings can play a key role in providing information about eldercare services, in counseling caregivers, and in advocating for employee benefits and community services to help workers maintain both work and family roles.