Abstract
The lack of integrating family caregivers as part of the formal health care system creates a gap in knowledge about how supported and prepared family caregivers feel upon taking on such responsibility. The level of unpreparedness can increase when the caregiver takes on the role unexpectedly. Although social services have been implemented to help support caring for an older recipient, there are still many caregivers that are unaware on how to access supportive resources. The lack of preparedness and support can lead to poor quality of care towards their elderly recipients as well as severe feelings of burden for the caregivers themselves. This study has utilized cross-sectional survey design using a secondary data set from the 2015 Caregiver in the U.S. national survey. Focusing on caregivers who additionally work a paying job, the research completed intends to examine how caregiver’s employers support or lack support towards their caregiver employees. Additionally, the author looks at how the recipient’s health providers support and guide the caregiver to fulfill appropriate tasks and to maximize quality of care. The findings showed that the majority of the caregivers reported that they did not experience any significant impact from their workplace. However, it was reported that the majority of caregivers did not receive or have access to any work benefits that would ease or assist them in caring for their family caregivers at home. This implies that the majority of the caregivers from this study did not have access to flexible work hours, did not have the option of working from home, did not receive information on programs or referrals regarding counseling, did not have paid leave offered to them or did not have paid sick days offered. Employers offering family caregivers support and resources in the form of work benefits is significantly important and would aid families in supporting their recipients as well as lowering level of burden and ideally, optimizing quality of care for their recipients.