Employees and Eldercare

The proportion of working Canadians who care for both children and elderly family members is on the rise. A 1999 Conference Board of Canada survey found 15 per cent of employees in that situation, compared to 9.5 per cent a decade earlier. One in four employees reported that they or others in their household provided care or support to an elderly family member or friend, up from one in five in the similar 1989 survey.

Increasingly, employers are becoming sensitive to this concern. In 1989, only six per cent of firms in the Conference Board study offered eldercare information and referral services, and 10 per cent offered services for care of relatives with disabilities. The 1999 survey found these proportions had risen to 37 per cent and 32 per cent respectively. It also found that employees perceived employers have an important role in dealing with these issues.

The most common forms of support for elders were visits (88 per cent), transportation (85 per cent) and help with shopping (79 per cent). One-quarter of caregivers reported higher levels of personal care, including dressing, bathing or feeding.

According to 1996 Statistics Canada data, 1.3 million women provided care to an elderly person with a long-term health problem; two-thirds of these women were also in the paid workforce.

As Canada's population ages, blending paid work with the care of older family members will become more and more common. Employers need to be sensitive to this as they are to concerns related to children.

Caring for an elderly person who wishes to remain at home rather than moving to a care facility can often create challenges. The following resources, available free on request from the Canada Safety Council, may be useful to have on hand for employees faced with this situation. Send requests by fax to (613) 739-1566 or by e-mail to csc@safety-council.org.

Maintaining Seniors' Independence Through Home Adaptations - A Self-Assessment Guide.
This excellent 24-page guide from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation identifies renovations that can help overcome difficulties associated with aging.

The Safe Living Guide - A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors
This 48-page guide from Health Canada gives practical tips and recommendations to help seniors live comfortably and safely in their own home for many years to come.

Bruno and Alice - A love story in twelve parts about seniors and safety
This Health Canada publication is the story of two active seniors who, through lack of prevention, end up in awkward situations and almost miss their rendez-vous with love.

These checklists can be downloaded from the Canada Safety Council's Web site:

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