Employees who are caring for an older relative are more likely to report health problems such as depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, costing employers an estimated average additional health care cost of 8% per year, or $13.4 billion annually, according to the MetLife Study of Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs.
The report, produced by the MetLife Mature Market Institute with the National Alliance for Caregiving in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Aging, also found that younger caregivers (ages 18 to 39) cost their employers 11% more for health care than non-caregivers, while male caregivers cost an additional 18%. It also found that eldercare may be closely associated with high-risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Even worse, the potential impact to employers is the possibility that these medical conditions may also lead to disability-related absences.
The MetLife report was drawn from an analysis of 17,000 employees of a major multinational U.S. corporation who completed health risk assessment questionnaires (12% were found to be caregivers for an older person).
To meet the health care needs of caregivers while reducing the associated costs, employers should consider integrating their wellness and eldercare programs. In addition to practices such as flexible hours, paid time off, and telecommuting, the report contains suggestions to connect their employees who are caregivers with wellness programs that will reduce their stress, positively impact their health, and provide needed support:
Suggestions—
- Stress-reduction seminars expanded to include onsite yoga and exercise classes, relaxation techniques, and massage therapy
- Decision-support systems providing information about available services
- Financial incentives to encourage participation in preventive benefits offered by employers (for example, premium reductions for those who obtain annual physicals, mammograms, Pap tests, smoking cessation classes, and exercise)
- Expanded onsite medical screenings
- Free legal and financial advice, especially pertaining to Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance
The MetLife Study of Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs can be downloaded: www.metlife.com/mmi/research/working-caregiver-employer-health-care-costs.html#findings.
From the Corporate Health Report, a monthly industry-insider e-letter available by subscription only at www.health-eheadlines.com. Email publisher for an exclusive free 3-month trial subscription for ID Wellness readers.
Sandra Wendel