Fears over growing pressure on workforce caring for relatives with dementia

Ninety per cent of employers fear the added pressure of caring for someone with dementia is having a growing impact on the health and productivity of employees.

Research published by charity Carers UK’s business forum, Employers for Carers, also revealed half of employees themselves feel managing their care responsibilities for someone with dementia is having a negative effect on their work.

In the survey of 1,000 carers, 38 per cent described a need for more recognition of caring issues in the workplace to help them feel like they can ask for help to balance their duties. Nearly 80 per cent were caring for a parent or parent-in-law, and 75 per cent were caring from a distance.

Caring for someone with dementia can be exhausting and draining

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK said: “Without the right support, caring for a partner or parent with dementia can be exhausting, stressful and emotionally draining.

“Combining work and caring can leave carers feeling like they are struggling alone, unable to access support at work or at home, because of the perceived stigma which surrounds talking openly about conditions like dementia and an ongoing lack of workplace recognition of and support with caring responsibilities for older loved ones.

“Increasingly many of us will find that looking after a loved one with dementia comes at the peak of our careers.”

Responding to the research, Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb, said: “The number of people with dementia in England is set to double in the next 30 years, meaning more people than ever will be taking on caring responsibilities for their elderly parents and relatives.

“The over 3 million carers juggling work and care need support to carry on the incredible work they do. That's why we are giving carers new rights to an assessment of their needs so that carers will have the same right to support as the people they care for.”

Two thirds of businesses are seeking more accessible national information on dementia to help their employees in all stages of caring, but less than a fifth are providing training for managers in dementia awareness.

A report accompanying the research wants more to be done to ensure employers share good practice on how to support staff members with care responsibilities.

Carers UK want employers to properly publicise flexible work arrangement opportunities already being offered, after a disparity was found between the number of employers with flexible work policies in place and the amount staff aware any form of support existed. Although 83 per cent of employers said they provided help to carers, only 43 per cent of staff members were aware of these measures.

Workers increasingly having to juggle caring responsibilities

Head of policy and public affairs of the Alzheimer’s Society, George McNamara said: “Dementia is a national challenge and businesses are not immune. Workers are increasingly having to juggle their caring responsibilities for their parents and older relatives and employers must respond in order to retain staff and stay competitive.

“Providing some basic information or flexible working can make all the difference, however, many workers who care for someone with dementia have nowhere to turn for support in the workplace. This is bad for business with many having to reduce hours or give up work altogether.

“The needs of carers of older people in the workplace have been overlooked. Only those employers who fully understand and recognise the need to provide support and the benefits will succeed in the future.”