Work it Wednesday: Work life balance for Caregivers

While many employers would like to believe their workers are focused 100 percent on the job while at the job, but real life doesn't always work that way.

Issues crop up, and one issue cropping up a lot these days, is the role many Americans play as caregiver.

DARTS, a Twin Cities based non-profit specializing in elder services, says 80-90 percent of all care for aging Americans is provided informally, through family or friends.

The level of care could range from simply checking in on someone, to driving elders to doctor appointments, making nursing home arrangements or guardianship.

A Met Life Mature Market Institute study indicates lost productivity from these caregiving duties costs employers up to $33.6 billion annually.

For that reason, DARTS offers Workplace Eldercare Seminars to help employers find low cost ways to support workers who are caregivers, and also to advise employees on readily available resources and strategies so they can find a better balance in their lives.

"DARTS goes to different businesses throughout the seven county meetro area providing onsite seminars that help the employees understand the issues of caregiving," says Lynn Cibuzar, services coordinator for DARTS.

Cibuzar says ost productivity for caregivers shows up in a variety of ways.

"People may take early retirement, they may go part time, they may pass up promotions because they feel like they don't have the opportunity to do both well."

DARTS tries to show workers and employers how to work together to help caregivers handle the demands of their workplace and their caregiving duties.

To learn more about DARTS Workplace Eldercare Seminars, click on the video link to the right.

Go to www.eldercarecalculator.org for additional information.

Check out our KARE family of Web sites:
	takeKARE		Metromix
	Moms Like Me		Minnesota Bound
	Showcase Minnesota