Juggling Work and Care : The Experiences of Working Carers of Older Adults

The emphasis on work-life balance has traditionally focused on childcare yet there is increasing evidence that the issue of supporting working carers of older adults is becoming significant for employers.

This report describes a study that investigated how working carers in two public sector organisations combined their roles and responsibilities as employees and carers.

The report describes the demographic and policy context of juggling work and family life, and details the policies and practices adopted to assist employees with caring responsibilities.

The awareness, use and benefit to employee carers of such policies and practices are highlighted through a series of interviews with carers and managers.

Policy and practice issues are also discussed. Critically, the report: provides valuable information on workplace responses to the needs of working carers, and the difficulties faced by managers and carers in using family-friendly policy and practice; offers some innovative ways to tackle the distinctive needs of carers of older people who are attempting to juggle work and family life. The report is aimed at policy makers and practitioners in health and social care fields, academics, human resource managers and carers.