Division of Responsibilities Is Primary Cause of Disagreement Among Family Caregivers

WESTPORT, Conn., June 22, 2005 – Thirty-seven percent of employees who care for an older loved one said that “division of responsibilities” is the leading cause of caregiving disagreements among them and their family members, while 18 percent chose “agreeing on a long-term care plan”—the top two responses to an online poll conducted by LifeCare^®, Inc., the exclusive provider of Life Event Management^® Services. The poll was open to workers of 1,500 employers nationwide via the LifeCare web site during the month of May.

Other leading causes of caregiving disagreements cited by respondents were:

		Long-distance caregiving issues — 16%
		Financial Issues — 16%
		Communicating effectively with one another — 13%

Tips for Family Members Providing Elder Care   Explain your loved one's needs and your decision to take on the role of caregiver. Review all the positive aspects of caring for your loved one: renewing or beginning a relationship, strengthening family ties and/or allowing your loved one to live in her/his home for as long as possible.   Openly discuss roles and responsibilities, determining who will do what and when.   Consider hiring a professional geriatric care manager to help divide up responsibilities or guide decisions about your loved one's care, especially if you and your family members cannot agree. Sometimes everyone is more willing to listen to a neutral third party.   Pick a time to meet as a family on a regular basis.   Be willing to revise your caregiving plan each time you meet. Caregiving roles can change as a loved one's needs change.   Make lists of your needs and problems as they arise to help clarify the kind of help that you may need.

“Caring for older loved ones can easily take a toll on family relationships,” notes Marianne C. Stook, LifeCare's vice president of Marketing Services. “While one family member is often deemed the main caregiver due to proximity, financial means, sibling assumptions and even gender, that doesn't mean other siblings or family members don't want a say. And for primary caregivers who also hold regular jobs, balancing work, actual caregiving and family dynamics, the pressure and stress can be significant. But caregivers who have siblings and other family members around should treat these people as allies—even when things aren't going perfectly. If they keep the best interests of their older loved one in mind, they can all help one another get through the challenges of caregiving.”

Stook also recommends that elder caregivers talk to their employers about their situations and ask whether their organizations offer any special programs (such as flexible work arrangements) or support systems that can help them manage their responsibilities more effectively.

“Another good way to alleviate some of the stress of these family difficulties is to join a caregiver support group,” Stook adds. “Support groups help participants realize that what they're going through is quite common and they allow members to vent their frustrations. Best of all, caregivers can benefit from the experiences of others in the group and learn techniques for successfully dividing responsibilities and communicating effectively with other family members.” Most support groups are free and some will even provide transportation or sitter services for those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Stook notes that there are even online support groups for those who aren't comfortable speaking in groups or who have very limited time.

Notes to Editors

Marianne C. Stook is available for interview.

About LifeCare^®, Inc.
LifeCare is one of the largest privately owned employee benefits organizations in the U.S. and the exclusive provider of Life Event Management^® Services. With more than 21 years of experience in delivering highly personalized counseling, education and referral services, LifeCare helps employees manage the day-to-day challenges of their lives. In turn, LifeCare helps employers improve employee commitment, recruitment, retention and workplace productivity. LifeCare currently serves 1,500 client companies with 4.5 million individuals within health plans, governmental agencies, unions and corporations. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.

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