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Baby Boomers Caring for Aging Parents Get Variety of Support from Employers

The Knoxville Business Journal, 3/17/08

Abstract:

When Eric Stewart isn't crunching numbers for Edfinancial, he may be running his in-laws to the doctor, picking up prescriptions or shopping for groceries. And Tuesday is bingo at Chick-fil-A.

Stewart, 47, is among a growing number of baby boomers who are juggling professional and family responsibilities as they take on the role of caregivers for their senior citizen parents.

It's a situation that can take a heavy financial, physical and emotional toll, and employers are beginning to think about ways they can help their workers balance it all.

An estimated one out of four U.S. households is involved in caring for a loved one aged 50 or older, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. Between one-third to one-half of all caregivers are also employed outside the home. Eventually, some 12 percent quit their jobs to provide care full time...

...The changing demographics within families have created a period in which baby boomers are "sandwiched" between the needs of their parents and their children. Thanks to advances in life expectancy, many of today's boomers have at least one living parent.

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