Elder care obligations challenge the next generation

HR Magazine, July, 1996 by Kate Walter

Some experts predict that as adult children realize that Medicare is likely to change dramatically in the next few years, they will purchase long-term insurance or press employers to provide access to insurance for their parents. The Prudential and Schering-Plough already offer long-term care insurance that can be purchased by employees and their families.

"I don't think there's going to be a revolution in kinds of benefits provided," said Coberly, "but I think we will see growth in long-term care insurance, especially if Congress votes to make it tax deductible."

"Long-term care insurance comes up all the time when I work with companies trying to make more attractive benefits packages," noted Kidd. "The problem is the expense. It's cost prohibitive if the person is already older. The time to buy coverage is when you're young, but it's hard to convince employees at that point."

PROVIDE A COMFORT ZONE

Although surveys indicate an increasing number of companies offer elder care, the topic itself remains in the closet. "It is much easier for an employee to approach an HR person or friends at the water cooler and talk about child care," observes Gavin of Connecticut Community Care. "It's one thing to say you were up during the night because your baby kept wetting the bed. It's different to say you were up because your father kept wetting the bed. This is an issue people don't bring forward easily."

Gavin says HR professionals need to become more aware of the number of people confronting care issues. "If you see a middle-aged employee who looks stressed, just as you might ask about the kids, ask about the parents too," she advises. By bringing up the subject, HR professionals can raise employees' comfort levels and encourage them to share, before concerns reach crisis proportions.

* For more information on elder care resources, see the HRMagazine section of SHRM's Home Page on the World Wide Web (http://www.shrm.org).

Kate Walter is a freelance writer based in New York City.