Helping Working Caregivers Manage the Challenges of Balancing Work and Caring for an Adult Family Member

Since the Fall of 1998 a national consortium of elder care and elder life planning professionals, including nurses and social workers along with insurance, accounting, and elder law specialists have been working to develop an effective, affordable solution to the complex needs of working caregivers; many of whom work for employers who are caught in the dilemma of recognizing the need for such a benefit, and benefits budgets' that make many of the existing programs difficult to afford.

Using a network of local independent nurses, social workers, financial, legal and insurance specialists a comprehensive package of elder and disability services can be offered by employers, trade unions or associations at an affordable cost that can often be less than a dollar per month per employee.

Known as "Elder Life Planning for Organizations," this service offers a full range of sophisticated information and referrals, toll-free telephone consultations with a professional counselor, referrals to insurance, eyecare, geriatric care services advice on paying for long-term care, durable medical equipment and elder legal services.  Using a nationwide preferred provider network gives us the capacity to provide a "one-stop shopping" benefit without requiring the "one size fits all" approach common to some of the more corporate work life companies. 

Bob O'Toole, President of Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc., the company that manages Elder Life Planning for Organizations explains how his company provides a rich source of caregiver support so affordable.