Eldercare

Did you know...

As of 30 June 2004, people aged 65 years and over represented 13 per cent of Australia's total population, or 2.6 million people (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australian Demographic Statistics, 2004, Cat. No. 3101.0, Table 4.1).
Nearly 600,000 Australians provide care for older relatives or friends?
One of the main reasons employees take time off work is to care for their parents?
Family members provide over 80% of the help given to people over 60?
Of those people working prior to taking on the "carer" role, 15% made changes to their work hours due to their responsibilities for caring?
21 per cent of primary carers are employed part-time and 17 per cent work full-time (Source: ABS, Social Trends 2005, Cat. No. 4102.0, 2003).

The care of an elderly relative is a responsibility which has the potential to affect almost every member of your organisation. The responsibility often arises unexpectedly and sometimes as a result of a crisis. With an aging population and changing workforce demographics, eldercare has surpassed childcare as a concern for employees and business.

Finding eldercare services and resources takes time away from the workplace. Absenteeism increases and, in some cases, staff resign because they are not able to cope. Employers are losing experienced and talented employees who could have been helped to manage their situation by an employer who is responsive to these issues.

The Managing Work | Life Balance International
Eldercare Information Kit is a low-cost resource by which organisations can demonstrate their commitment to practical work/life initiatives which are both valuable to employees and cost-effective for the business. The Kit also provides information to help employees understand the issues and access the services they need.

Topics covered include:

Planning to manage eldercare and work responsibilities
Understanding the needs of the older person and managing priorities
Caring for the carer
Financial assistance for carers
Care services for older people
Caring for an older person from a distance
Legal services for older people
Coping with loss and grief
Health, safety and security
Consumer rights within health, community services and residential care
Government assistance through pensions and benefit schemes
Leave and flexible work options (customised for each organisation)
An extensive resource directory of agencies, associations and other eldercare resources available throughout Australia

The Kit contains case studies, checklists and discussion guides to help carers, their families and older dependants to address the needs of eldercare.

The Eldercare Information Kit is available through a licensing arrangement with Managing Work|Life Balance, in a printed or electronic format and can be adapted to suit your organisation's specific policies, programs and corporate identity. The Kit has already been purchased many of Australia's top 100 employers.

Organisations currently using the Kit include:-

Abbott Australia
Australia Post
Centrelink
Coles Myer
Holden Australia
IBM
Kellogg's Australia
Malleson Stephen Jacques
Minter Ellison,
Origin Energy
The Commonwealth Bank
Vic Roads
Victoria Police
Westpac Bank