# data[].attributes.body
Formal caregivers provide the same care as informal caregivers whether is be at home, in a daycare, or in a long-term care facility except they get paid.

https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiver-statistics-work-and-caregiving/

# data[].attributes.body
Formal caregivers can consist of physicians, home health nurses nurse assistants, and therapists.

# data[].attributes.body
Caregiver who seek help are less likely to burn out and are better able to provide long-term care if need be. Formal caregivers tend to have limited contact with their patients and a very structured environment helping with a lower burn out as well.

Amy Hosier, Family Life Specialist & Robert Flashman, Family Resource Management Specialist Caregiving 101.
https://slideplayer.com/slide/5877142/

# data[].attributes.body
66% of caregivers are women and the average age is 48. Male caregivers are increasing due to many social demographic changes but are less likely to provide personal care

Amy Hosier, Family Life Specialist & Robert Flashman, Family Resource Management Specialist Caregiving 101.

# data[].attributes.body
There are many support group for caregivers to join to seek support with any caregiving struggles. Male caregivers tend to be more likely to seek social support than female caregivers because they are less comfortable with the caregiver role and preforming ADLs.

# data[].attributes.body
Short-term relief for caregivers can be provided in home, in healthcare facilities, or at an adult day center. This allows the caregiver to get a break from the demands of caregiving. It helps relieve stress, restore energy, and promote balance in their life. using respite care can also help prevent caregiver burnout and feelings of isolation.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/caregiving/respite-care.htm

# data[].attributes.body
One theory has suggested that gender differences in caregiver outcomes exist because, compared with a male caregiver, a female caregiver will face higher levels of caregiving stressors, have fewer social resources, and report lower levels of psychological and physical health. (Gilligan, 1982)

https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/61/1/P33/550462

# data[].attributes.body
6 in 10 caregivers report bring Non-Hispanic white which equates to about 61%, 17% are Hispanic Latino, 14% are non-hispanic Black, and 5% are Asian American.

(CAREGIVING IN THE U.S. 2020)

# data[].attributes.body
Though many formal caregivers feel like their role gives them a sense of meaning, those emotions are typically accompanied with stress and strain.

# data[].attributes.body
Formal caregivers can face fair or poor health due to their inability to take care of their own health.  (1997 study Family Caregiving in the U.S.)

# data[].attributes.body
There have been many resources created to help caregivers find emotional, financial, and task support. You can use the National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus site, the National Institute of Aging, the managing money guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the VA Caregiver Support Line.

https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiver

# data[].attributes.body
To ensure that the caregiver is minimizing stress for themselves, many jobs will offer time off, resources, and financial support. Some of these benefits are:

-Paid Family leave
-Employer paid caregiver resources
-Family and Medical Leave Act
-flexible spending accounts

https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/employee-benefits-can-help-caregivers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
To minimize stress and maximize health for both you and your loved one, it's important that you take advantage of all the caregiver employee benefits available to you. Read on for tips on the employer caregiving benefits you may be entitled to, like employer-sponsored caregiver resources, time off, or financial support.
In this article:
Employer-paid caregiver resources

It may sometimes feel like you're the only one at your job juggling caregiving duties and a career, but that's probably not the case.

"Around 88% of United States employees care for a loved one who is aging in place, 36% are long-distance caregivers and 60% have senior loved ones with cognitive or medical issues," according to a 2018 report by Torchlight, a data-driven company which offers employer-sponsored resources to employees who are also caregivers.

There are many companies that offer elder care benefits to their employees, as family caregiving responsibilities can fall on executives and line staff alike, explained Adam Goldberg, CEO and founder of Torchlight. Employers pay Torchlight for services that are then offered as a benefit to caregiving employees. Torchlight's support services include advising from an array of specialists, concierge services, as well as podcasts, webinars, and other caregiving resources.

"We match the employee up for a consultation with someone with experience in memory care, insurance, housing, and other issues that caregivers face," said Goldberg.

If you are eligible for employer caregiver benefits through your company, you will likely find those benefits in your company handbook. If you don't find what you're looking for, consider reaching out to your employer's human resources (HR) department to see if the company offers these benefits.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Programs for finding and managing care

Many companies now offer caregiver-specific benefits that even include care support.

is one of those companies. They provide public- and private-sector employers with ways to best support employees, by providing the employee with care resources like respite care on in-home care options. Care@Work's mission is to fill a future need for caregiving resources. They provide their client employers with a network of care providers to fill caregiving gaps for employees.

Again, read through your employee handbook or check in with your employer's HR department to see if similar programs are available to you through your place of work.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Caregiving employees may be eligible for federal or state benefits that allow them to take a short or extended leave from work to care for an aging loved one. Some of these benefits can be found through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This act entitles eligible family caregivers to receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period to care for an aging loved one.

You're eligible for the FMLA benefits if you meet the following criteria:

Work for a private employer with 50 or more employees

Work for a government agency or school district

Worked 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of the leave

Worked for the employer for at least 12 months (not necessarily consecutively)

Some companies provide paid or partially paid FMLA leave. For more information on FMLA rules, see the U.S. Department of Labor's FMLA Employee Guide.

Paid family leave

A handful of states provide some form of paid or unpaid family leave on top of the leave afforded by the federal FMLA. Additional paid family leave is critical when a large amount of time off is needed to care for a seriously ill loved one. The following states offer additional paid family leave benefits:

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to federal and state mandates requiring companies to provide COVID-specific caregiving leave to employees. Picking up medications, providing transportation, and keeping immunocompromised loved ones safe during times of high community transmission are all examples of caregiving that may be eligible for COVID-19 special benefits or accommodations.

Talk with a Senior Living Advisor

Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.

"People caring for a loved one should research what benefits are available at work. They may actually have employee benefits they didn't realize they could use," advised Bradley.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

Many employers offer some form of a flexible spending account (FSA), which can be used for long-term caregiving costs. But, according to Colin Bradley, CEO and president of Winston Benefits in Manasquan, New Jersey, many employees often fail to take advantage of this benefit, because they do not understand that their expenses are eligible. So, it's important to check if your employer offers this benefit.

An FSA and a dependent care FSA (DCFSA) each are employer-sponsored benefits that allow employees to contribute pretax dollars up to a certain amount annually. Some employers even make additional contributions to an FSA account as an added employee benefit. Employees can then use these funds to cover health or dependent care expenses, like respite or in-home care, depending on the type of FSA. Even better, because FSA dollars are pretax, they can reduce your taxable income.

Know your options

If you're uncertain whether your employer offers caregiver-specific benefits, reach out to your company's HR representative to discuss your options. Many policies have been updated since the COVID-19 pandemic, so be sure to review them all to see if there have been changes. Employer benefits for caregivers may provide care resources, ways to pay for long-term care, paid time off, and more. Don't hesitate to take advantage of these benefits to find a work-life balance.

Ultimately, paid leave for caregivers helps employers ensure their top talent have the support they need to remain creative, efficient and productive while caregivers receive the support and time they need to provide proper care for their family members.

When caregiving becomes too much

If your loved one is in need of a higher level of care than you feel you can truly provide while working, maybe it's time to discuss their long-term care options. Perhaps part-time in-home care or only a respite care stay is all that's needed to lighten the load. Or, maybe a senior living community is the appropriate option for the highest quality of care.

If this is a consideration, reach out to a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom for free, local advice on care options in your area. They have been helping families find the right care for decades.
The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal, or financial advice or to create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney, or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Caregiver Employee Benefits That Help Caregivers Find a Work-Life Balance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
To minimize stress and maximize health for both you and your loved one, it's important that you take advantage of all the caregiver employee benefits available to you. Read on for tips on the employer caregiving benefits you may be entitled to, like employer-sponsored caregiver resources, time off, or financial support.

# data[].attributes.body
Many formal caregivers have the training and education in the services they need to provide.

# data[].attributes.body
Many formal caregivers have excellent job security, salaries, and employee benefits.The average nurses salary across the U.S. is $80,010. Additionally, they are offered health and life insurance, Tuition reimbursement, Wellness programs,  Retirement benefits, reimbursement for certification fees, and childcare.

https://nursejournal.org/articles/benefits-to-pursuing-a-career-in-nursing/

# data[].attributes.body
Though caregiving can be rewarding for most, the long hours and daily tasks can involve many stressors. If the caregiver does not have support or utilize their resources, the emotional impact can snowball over time leading to a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. When a caregiver is burnt out they can have much less energy than before, weakened immune system, feeling helpless and hopeless, trouble relaxing, and their life tends to revolve around caregiving so they will neglect their own needs.

(Caregiver Stress and Burnout, Melinda Smith, M.A. 2022)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Caregiver Stress and Burnout - HelpGuide.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Caregiving stress can lead to burnout if you don't take care of yourself. These tips will help you avoid caregiver burnout and regain control over your life.

# data[].attributes.body
The RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council delivered a report to congress for improving support of caregivers. This recommends to the Department of Health and Human Services effective models of support to caregivers.

https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/caregivers-need-support-too