ABSTRACT
Many American families are caught up in the difficult process of caregiving while also managing the economic needs of the family. In the 1970s and 1980s many American companies recognized that child care was an issue related to recruiting and retaining workers. This chapter explores the process of eldercare and its relationship to work, discusses some of the ways in which companies can assist their workers with eldercare responsibilities. There are several ways in which employers can assist their caregiving employees. The overall benefit package available to employees can include components that recognize work and family issues. Workplace initiatives that specifically address the eldercare provider can be categorized as information models, direct service models, referral and linkage models, or service reimbursement models. Many caregiving employees, when asked what types of service would be most useful to them, reported that they needed information about services and ways in which they could better help their older relatives.
