FCRP Policy Statement

Women provide much of the post-hospital home care for elderly family members. Caregiving has a significant economic impact upon these women.

In a sample of 236 employed women caring for an elderly relative, Michigan State University researchers found that 68% were employed prior to the hospitalization of their relative but only 43% were employed one month after the discharge of their relative from the hospital. Home care demands have significant implications for women and their employers. The types of adjustments that women make to care for their relative are summarized in the figure below:

As the family member recovers, needs for care lessen. However, the three or so months following hospitalization is a difficult time for women caregivers. Health care reform encompassing shorter hospital stays has a real impact upon families and their work patterns. Cost containment measures are not without consequence and a significant burden is clearly placed on women who provide this home care with implications for the workplace.

Policy Implications

These results provide information to help policy makers design programs to assist employees with family care. Policies should:

• Not jeopardize caregivers who take a leave of absence or leave the workplace temporarily to provide care. Today, women caregivers' own elder years can be endangered due to foregone earnings, interrupted health insurance and loss of pension benefits.
• Educate employers so that they are aware of the severity of issues related to family care, the need for flexibility, and that family care policies are in the best interest of both employee and employer. Time for care may be far less expensive than sustained hospitalization or training new employees.
• Assist low income families who are struggling to provide care. Current legislation which only provides for unpaid family care leave does not meet the needs of low income families.
• During discharge planning, provide information and opportunities to model and teach home care to families for effective rehabilitation and patient recovery. Currently, no programs provide organized education to help family members provide high quality care. Women and other family members must be taught how to contribute to effective quality patient outcomes.

From Franklin, S. T., Ames, B. D., & King, S. (1994). Acquiring the family eldercare role: Influence on family employment adaptation. Research on Aging, 16(1), 27-42. Research supported by grant #2 RO1 AG06584, "Caregiver Responses to Managing Elderly Patients at Home," funded by the National Institute on Aging.