WHAT IS BACKUP CARE?
Defining Backup Care
Backup Care is temporary or short-term care for loved ones of any age when normal caregiving arrangements fall through.
Why Backup Care?
- Employees have caregiving responsibilities for loved ones of all ages, healthy or ill, in all locations and at all hours.
- Often employees have to take their own sick days or vacation time to care for a loved one. In fact, about 1 in 4 unscheduled absences are caused by family issues.[1]
- Absenteeism caused by caregiving responsibilities costs employers more than $7 billion per year.[2]
- A backup care program enables employees to get to work when they experience breakdowns in their normal caregiving arrangements and saves employers money in reduced absenteeism.
When is backup care used?
- Last Minute Breakdowns in Care (illness, unreliable caregivers, school closures)
- Predictable Circumstances (holidays, summer break, caregiver vacations, surgery)
- Difficult to Resolve Situations (various locations, non-traditional hours, loved ones who live elsewhere)
[1] CCH Study, 2006
[2] MetLife Caregiving Costs Study, 2006