Why Care About Employed Caregivers?
Shifting demographics and cultural changes are affecting the face of modern caregiving. As we explored in an earlier article, today’s caregiver doesn’t always meet the traditional image of the dutiful daughter with few outside responsibilities. In fact, data from the 2014 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index® revealed that 13.4 percent of modern caregivers are employed full-time—meaning caregivers are balancing work, self-care and their own personal lives with the often daunting responsibilities of caregiving.
These multiple priorities can mean that caregivers may not be focused on their own well-being. Well-Being Index data tells us that there is a link between caregiving and well-being—caregivers, regardless of age, have lower overall well-being than non-caregivers. They’re also behind non-caregivers when it comes to the individual elements of well-being. Across the board, caregivers have lower purpose, social, financial, community and physical well-being than non-caregivers (though older caregivers reach parity in social well-being).
The link between caregiving and well-being has important implications for employers. Well-Being Index data reveals that caregivers are more likely to have conditions that require expensive medical interventions, such as diabetes and asthma. They’re also more prone to lifestyle risks like obesity and smoking, which can also drive up healthcare costs.
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