Caring4elders

We set up Caring4Elders in 2012 to raise awareness of the needs of people who provide help or care to older relatives and friends. One of the ways we do this is by helping employers to recognise and respond to the needs of staff who care for an older person, supporting improved well-being for their staff, reducing stress and absenteeism and aiding the retention in work of experienced staff, many of whom are at the peak of their careers We provide briefings for employers on responding to the needs of employees who provide informal care for older people. In addition, we deliver webinars or face-to-face bespoke employee sessions for staff who care for older people. As we developed the offer we became increasingly aware of the huge challenges for society of a rising pension age coupled with a rapidly ageing population. State resources for social care are shrinking and there is an increased expectation from policy makers that families should care for their own. We are now in the position where people in their 50s and 60s, still in work and often at the peak of their careers, are supporting and caring for the 80-100 year olds in their family, with all the associated impacts on individual carers and their employers. We responded by offering employers a programme of tailored workshops so that they could help their staff in managing through this new role, supporting employee well-being and reducing stress while at the same time increasing motivation and company performance. Within the wider community we also offer briefings and workshops to health care professionals and locally-based groups of carers. In the lead in to National Grandparents Day on 4th October we will be offering HR professionals a free taster webinar to showcase the support we offer to employers. Details of the free taster can be found here, or email office@caring4eldersuk.org.uk to express an interest or discuss our support.