“Navigating eldercare is challenging,” says Susan Abramson, interim manager for Worklife and Childcare in the Yale Office of Diversity and Inclusion. One in six Americans act as a caregiver to an older adult, and as the average age of the baby boomer generation passes 80, that number is likely to grow. Logistical hurdles for caregivers can include addressing health issues, finding long-term care, and accessing in-home assistance — made still more difficult when a loved one doesn’t live nearby.
To help, Yale provides an Enhanced Eldercare benefit: up to six hours of no-cost help from experienced professionals, available anywhere in the United States for benefits-eligible employees. “Having a resource to help guide employees during a complex and confusing time is comforting and starts with a simple phone call, at no cost to the employee,” says Susan.
Services provided, through benefits partner Optum, include assessments of a loved one’s current living situation, planning for in-home assistance, and connection to community resources. Optum’s professionals can also review financial, legal, and medical concerns to make referrals for long-term care. All requests are handled confidentially.
For more information on this benefit, visit Optum’s Solutions for Caregivers.
