Family Caregivers Reveal Greatest Challenges
In LifeCare^® Poll

WESTPORT, Conn., June 22, 2006 – Asked to identify their biggest challenges in caring for aging family members and loved ones, 25 percent of respondents answered “finding appropriate resources” while another 25 percent cited “burnout”—the top two answers to the latest poll by LifeCare^®, Inc., a work/life pioneer and leading provider of life management services. Other leading caregiving challenges identified by respondents were:

		Managing my time effectively — 23%
		Understanding my loved one's needs — 9%
		Dividing responsibilities between other family members and myself — 8%
		Knowing how to assist with activities of daily living (bathing, eating, etc.) — 7%
		The money I spend on my loved one's needs — 3%

The poll was conducted throughout the month of May on LifeCare's private web site, which is open to employees and members of LifeCare's 1,500 client companies nationwide.

Recognize the Warnings Sings of Caregiver Burnout   Withdrawal from other family members and close friends; refusing invitations to dinner, parties, a night out, etc.; staying home much of the time.   Giving up favorite pastimes and hobbies.   Feeling irritable, helpless or depressed; crying suddenly and/or for no apparent reason.   Getting angry or frustrated more easily/quickly; taking out frustrations on others.   Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight.   Getting ill more often.   Trouble sleeping; feeling exhausted even after a good night's sleep.   Suffering from chronic health issues (headaches, digestive problems, etc.).

“Caring for loved ones can be challenging enough on its own but it can become absolutely overwhelming for people who also hold down regular full-time jobs,” said LifeCare CEO, Peter G. Burki. “In fact, family caregivers often report that their quality of life and job performance are seriously affected by their caregiving duties. That's why a growing number of employers, health plans, insurance programs and other membership-oriented organizations now offer their constituents a variety of caregiver support services.”

Burki said that caregiver burnout alone costs employers millions of dollars every year in terms of illness, lost productivity, absenteeism and increased health care costs. “Caregiver support services are a cost-effective way to minimize the negative impacts of caring for older loved ones,” he stated. These services can include resource and referral services, access to professional care managers (to handle complex cases), flexible work schedules and more.

Caregiving Takes Its Toll

According to a 2004 study, one in six caregivers considers her/his health to be fair or poor, while one-third say that their emotional stress level is a four or five on a five-point scale (five being “very stressful”). Additional studies show that 69 percent
of family caregivers report arriving to work late or leaving early; 67 percent take time off during the day to attend to caregiving duties; and 64 percent use sick days or vacation time for caregiving. While flexible work schedules can help workers avoid being late or missing work at particular times, caregiver support services make an even greater impact. “LifeCare's caregiver support services, for example, ensure that family caregivers have adult care specialists available to counsel them around the clock,” said Burki. “Our specialists help caregivers find the best local resources to suit their loved one's unique needs—everything from in-home services to respite services to caregiving-oriented legal and financial services, and more.”

According to Burki, one of LifeCare's increasingly popular offerings is access to a proprietary national network of professional care managers who conduct in-person assessments deliver in-home care services, assist with provider evaluation and selection, make post-hospital assessments, provide facility review and placement, conduct ongoing care monitoring and coordination, offer insurance claims submission support and more.

LifeCare's caregiver support services also help caregivers educate themselves about important issues, make the best possible decisions, avoid burnout and effectively meet the changing needs of their loved ones through a wide array of articles, guides, tip sheets, seminars and other informational resources.

LifeCare's caregiver support services are just one component of its larger Successful Aging Services suite, which helps individuals resolve the full spectrum of mid-life and aging issues, including cognitive health issues (mental function, emotional wellbeing, preventive measures, etc.), aging-related legal and financial matters (wills, estates, document preparation, investing, etc.), and pre- and post-retirement planning needs (personalized financial planning, ongoing work opportunities, volunteerism, remaining healthy and productive, etc.). LifeCare now delivers its Successful Aging^SM Services to more than a half-million individuals via health plans, governmental agencies, unions and corporate benefits programs.

Each month, LifeCare posts a poll on its private members' web site asking individuals to share their thoughts and opinions on the latest issues and work/life trends. Past polls have addressed topics such as family caregiving challenges, aging, flexible work arrangements, special needs children, and barriers to on-the-job productivity.

Notes to Editors

Peter G. Burki is available for interview.

About LifeCare^®, Inc.
For 22 years, LifeCare has provided people with customized care plans for all aspects of their personal and professional lives, including child care and parenting, elder care and healthy aging, education and personal growth, financial and legal matters, and far beyond. LifeCare serves 1,500 client companies with 4.5 million individuals within corporations, health plans, government agencies and unions. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.

Media contact: Michael Civiello
LifeCare, Inc.
pr1@lifecare.com
203-291-4170