Wellthy and New York Life help caregivers avoid a damaging leave of absence

Many caregivers end up putting their careers on hold due to the mental, physical, and emotional toll it takes, yet the right employer-provided support can make a huge difference in helping them balance their personal responsibilities and work.

Fifty-six percent of caregivers work full time, according to data compiled by caregiver resource The Family Care Alliance. Seventy-percent of working caregivers say the dual roles have caused difficulties in doing their jobs, and 69% say they have had to take an unpaid leave of absence in order to attend to their caregiving responsibilities.

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But employers can provide early intervention, making a leave of absence a last resort, says Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of caregiver benefit provider, Wellthy. The platform will now be offered as a vendor to New York Life’s thousands of employer clients. When employees put in a request for a leave of absence, organizations have access to Wellthy as both an affordable employee resource, or a new option to incorporate in their existing benefit programs. Wellthy proves specialized care coordinators, who help manage care plans, act as an advocate when needed, and help caregivers manage the social and emotional demands of their role.

“Caregivers live with a constant sense of uncertainty and a fear of the future,” Jurist-Rosner says. “There are so many employees using leaves of absence for caregiving and this partnership provides a more comprehensive solution to employers. For some employees, leave is an option, but maybe it makes more sense for that employee to get some targeted support.”

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This helping hand can go a long way in preventing caregiver burnout, which can have a serious impact on an employee’s ability to perform well at work, Jurist-Rosner says.

“There's just this emotional and mental load that goes into caregiving that just creates a real sense of drain for people,” she says. “It can be hard to try and focus in a meeting or get some work done on a project when you're emotionally exhausted and drained. It just makes it harder to focus on the present and to put your all into your work.”

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As employers focus on the mental and emotional well-being of their employees, caregiving support will need to be center stage, Jurist-Rosner says.

“Employers realize that attracting and retaining the right talent means providing support within their complex personal lives, which often includes caregiving,” she says. “Caregiving benefits are only going to continue to grow and increase in urgency and awareness.”