Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106712

Mary Lou Wranesh-Cook, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, SUNY Institute of Technology, PO Box 3050, Utica, NY 13504, 315-792-7280, fmwc@sunyit.edu and John Cook, PhD, School of Management, SUNY Institute of Technology, PO Box 3050, Utica, NY 13504.

The work environment exerts a strong influence on coping abilities of today's employed caregivers. A researcher developed survey examined employee perceptions regarding plans for eldercare (n=36). Results revealed stories of personal experiences that ranged from physically exhausted long term caregiving to somber consideration of the possible personal changes of aging. The findings offer numerous points for professional intervention. Few employees had attended informational sessions on this topic, the majority viewed themselves as probable caregivers in the future, tended to talk most often with coworkers about this issue, and identified a need for more information. A scenario-based questionnaire was then developed to elicit responses from youngish adults to coping with a fictional eldercare crisis. Thirty-two questionnaires were analyzed. Open ended responses were grouped by themes, 16 concepts identified: 36% - give household assistance; 17% - work on finances; and 12% - employing aides. Twenty two percent felt they could receive assistance from their employer, 53% felt that employers had some obligation to assist. Primary prevention strategies to deal with the potential situations of employed caregivers offer a wiser choice than crisis intervention. Family friendly organizational policies, adept human resource managers, and employee health promotion offerings would enhance the ability of workers to meet the challenges of caregiving.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will recognize the relationships among workplace stress, organizational performance, and employee performance.
• Participants will be able to develop two workplace interventions to promote employee health.

Keywords: Caregivers, Workplace Stressors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.