Caring for an Older Person

Advice for employers and employees with care responsibilities.

Balancing the roles of carer and worker can be extremely demanding and difficult. Unlike child care, it is seldom discussed in the workplace.

Improving this balance will increase productivity and morale, as well as ensuring valued skilled staff are retained.

"My father had been ill for five years and it was getting too much to keep my full-time job and manage everything at home, including Dad's care. So I decided to resign and take care of him. He lived for about eight months after I resigned. Later I learned that there are ways of managing a job and caring role."

Caring for older family members is not new. Combining it with a paid career is.

• Employed carers may work at all levels, including middle or senior management.

• They may be increasingly concerned about how their care role will impact on their career or business.
• The caring role affects men as well as women.
• It may happen suddenly, for example a heart attack or stroke.
• Demands on the employed carer may increase as the older person becomes more dependent.
• The demands can be both physical and emotional, for example arranging transport or taking the older person to day care; guilt and fears about leaving them alone or with another carer.

Caring for older people takes many forms. It may not necessarily mean that the older person is cared for in the employee's home. The older person may live alone but require oversight or regular assistance. The older family member may live in a different part of the country or world and the employee may need a period of leave at short notice.

Some suggested steps

It is important for employers and employees to work together to find solutions.

* Employers need to be aware of their obligations under the Privacy Act 1993

"After losing a valuable employee because she felt she couldn't continue to work and care for her father, I was encouraged to set up provisions for other staff who were caring for older relatives. My priorities are obviously to keep my skilled and loyal staff and ensure my business continues to prosper."

Other resources

The Legal Resources Trust has developed a resource kit and video called "Making it work - How New Zealand business can be Family Friendly." This includes practical guidelines that can assist you. It is available from the Legal Resources Trust, P O Box 11-248, Wellington; or from the EEO Trust.

For further information about setting up a "Family Friendly Workplace" contact the EEO Trust, PO Box 3377. Auckland, (ph: 0-9-367 7814 or fax: 0-9-309 9422)

Your local Age Concern Council or Citizen's Advice Bureau can provide information on assistance that is available to employers and those who are in employment and caring for an older family member. See your phone book for contact numbers.

Other contacts for assistance can include your GP, your workplace's industrial chaplain and the Care of the Elderly/Older People service at your local hospital.

This Factsheet was first published in May 1995; last updated 2008.