What is a caregiver?
A caregiver is any person who regularly helps as loved one who is older, sick, or living with a disability. That care might include occasional tasks such as helping loved ones fill prescriptions, pay their bills, or get to a doctor. For some, this care is more intense and may include daily check-ins, bathing and preparing meals.
In fact, 1 in 6 employees in Southwestern Pennsylvania is a caregiver.
How do I know if I am a caregiver?
Do you…
- Manage a loved one’s medications?
- Check in on a loved one regularly?
- Prepare a loved one’s meals?
- Plan or attend a loved one’s doctors’ visits?
- Help a loved one dress or bathe?
- Organize or pay a loved one’s bills?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you are a caregiver.
How does caregiving affect employees like me?
Although caregiving can be a meaningful experience, stress and strain due to caregiving is common. Being a caregiver can put pressure on your work, your health and your finances. Caregivers who balance these responsibilities with work are more likely to experience stress and feel overwhelmed in the workplace.
What is United Way doing to help local employees balance career and caregiving responsibilities?
We are helping employers include family caregiving in their company culture. It’s important that every employee feels safe discussing their family caregiving responsibilities and accessing resources, every manager understands the demands of caregiving, and every colleague supports caregivers in the workplace.
United for Caregivers@Work provides a set of educational and practical resources to help manage the demands of caregiving.
Do I have to be a caregiver to participate?
Everyone is welcome! Caregiving impacts us all and, chances are, we will all become caregivers at some point in our lives. We encourage you to take advantage of these events and prepare yourself for the future. Additionally, by showing up, you can support your coworkers who may be going through a difficult time right now.
Why now? And why United for Caregivers@Work?
Many forward-thinking companies are stepping up for working moms and dads- and working caregivers belong in this conversation, too. Much like new parents, employees who care for older relatives need support from their managers and colleagues in order to feel safe, access resources and manage their responsibilities.
United for Caregivers@Work offers an opportunity for local employers to include family caregiving in their company culture and provide vital support to their caregiving employees. The program is designed specifically for your needs, developed by a trusted organization and tested by other employers in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Five regional leaders, including UPMC and the Pittsburgh practice of Deloitte LLP, are already taking these steps, and you can join them. Workplace programs that engage caregivers have been shown to increase productivity, retention, and employee satisfaction – building trust and delivering return on investment. A recent study found that businesses offering flexibility to caregivers saw a ROI between $1.70 and $4.45 for every dollar invested in these policies.
How long will United for Caregivers@Work run?
The program is designed for one year of participation, but the goal is for employers to make family caregiving a permanent part of their community culture. United for Caregivers@Work will offer ongoing events, trainings and presentations.
How can my company join?
Contact Heather Sedlacko at heather.sedlacko@unitedwayswpa.org for more information on United for Caregivers@Work and how to get started.
