Headline News
Employers and Caregivers Nationwide to Benefit from New LifeCare Alliance

The delivery of elder care services and support is taking a quantum leap forward, says James Weil, LifeCare’s Managing Director of Successful Aging.

Weil is referring to LifeCare’s recently announced alliance with the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM), the country’s preeminent professional geriatric management organization. The alliance forms the nation’s first truly comprehensive, fully integrated system for helping employers and caregivers effectively deal with elder care’s impact on the workplace. Under this alliance, LifeCare has exclusive access to NAPGCM’s Guild—a new organization of eminently qualified professional geriatric care managers who conform to strict quality standards in an industry that is still largely unregulated. Specifically, all Guild members meet strict educational and experience requirements, abide by a Pledge of Ethics, adhere to Standards of Practice, and maintain minimum insurance requirements as set by the NAPGCM. LifeCare is the only work/life organization to have access to this network, which means our clients will benefit from referrals to the most highly qualified GCMs in the industry.

An Alliance Focused on Quality

“This alliance enables both parties to optimize their core competencies in a way that maximizes benefits to caregivers and care recipients,” notes Weil, one of the nation’s principal authorities on issues of business and aging. The alliance also provides significant benefits to employers, he adds. It ensures that caregivers receive the highest quality care for their elders, enabling them to remain focused and productive at work rather than being distracted by their caregiving responsibilities. As a result, productivity is enhanced and absenteeism and turnover are reduced.

According to Weil, LifeCare uses the Internet, its call center and print materials to maintain a strong connection with its client employees, providing personalized education, resources and referrals around the clock on every aspect of elder care. The Guild supplements this connection by providing expert focus “on the ground,” including in-home assessments, care plans, and ongoing face-to-face care management provided by Guild geriatric care managers.

“Caring for an adult loved one is a growing national concern,” says Steven M. Barlam, former president of NAPGCM, who was instrumental in launching the alliance. “We were looking for a partner to help us maximize the high-quality and cost-effective health and human service solutions we provide. LifeCare’s historic and leading industry presence—and proven commitment to quality employee benefits programs—made it the obvious choice.”

An Issue that Doesn’t Discriminate

Approximately one-third of LifeCare covered employees are facing adult caregiving issues—a figure that Weil says will continue to increase over time as the life expectancy of our population increases. According to Weil, over the next two years, it is estimated that more than 40% of the workforce will be caring for aging loved ones. “Elder care doesn’t discriminate by gender or socio-economic status. And from a business standpoint, elder care affects every company’s bottom line,” says Weil.

“We’re providing an unprecedented level of support for everyone involved,” says LifeCare CEO, Peter G. Burki. “Caregivers will benefit from peace of mind, employers will benefit from more productive employees, and the real winners are our nation’s elderly—who will receive a level of service that they might not otherwise have access to.”