Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Caregivers are more likely to suffer depression, heart disease and other conditions that, in turn, contribute to mounting health care costs for their employers, a new study finds.

The problem is that eldercare may be closely linked with high-risk behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Plus, many chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can lead to disability-related absences that add to employer costs. 

About 10 percent of caregivers missed at least one day of work over the past two weeks because of health issues, compared to 9 percent of non-caregivers.

Differences were mostly driven by the much higher absenteeism among younger caregiving employees, age 18 to 39. However, boomers are not immune to caregiving stress, often becoming more susceptible to age-related illnesses such as Alzheimer's.

Not matter the circumstances, caregivers of all ages are more likely to report health problems that collectively cost employers an additional 8 percent annually, or about $13.4 billion, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, a nonprofit think tank on aging issues.

To curb expenses, greater emphasis on eldercare services and wellness initiatives is part of the prescription caregiving groups are urging. In the meantime, Congressional leaders are still trying to figure out a way to pass health care reform.

How Caregiving Affects Work
Age and gender are big factors in determining employers' health care costs. For example, male caregivers cost an additional 18 percent - an expense that could be due, in part, to a man's increased tendency to smoke, the study suggested. Meanwhile, younger caregivers cost employers 11 percent more for health care than non-caregivers.

"Caregivers have more unplanned absences," said Gail Hunt, president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Caregiving, which helped produce the report. "Their performance on the job is also compromised by a lack of focus on their work due to distractions, like phone calls and care coordination, that occupy their time."

The report is based on analysis of health risk assessment questionnaires from 17,000 employees at a major US corporation. About 12 percent were caregivers for an older person.

One of the challenges highlighted in the report is that employed caregivers find it more difficult than non-caregivers to take care of their own health or participate in preventive screenings. For example, women caregivers were less likely to undergo annual mammograms than non-caregivers.

Neglecting Themselves
To improve caregivers' health care needs - and reduce the associated costs - employers should consider integrating their wellness and eldercare programs, said Sandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife institute.

"Employers can provide support to their employees and, at the same time, reduce their health care costs by anticipating and responding to the challenges of eldercare," she said.

That includes making available options such as flexible hours, paid time off and telecommuting. In addition, employers can provide wellness programs such as stress-reduction seminars aimed at yoga and exercise, relaxation techniques and massage therapy.

Financial incentives can prove beneficial, too. For example, employers can provide premium reductions for workers who get annual physicals, mammograms or Pap tests. 

Free legal and financial advice, especially related to Medicare and Medicaid,  also is critical for caregivers who often struggle to make decisions about these programs, the report found.