Combining Work and Elder Caring: Positive and Negative Consequences

The increase in the number of older people within §the population has generated a corresponding §increase in the need for care. At the same time, §however, there are fewer women of caring age in the §UK, and of these, a large percentage are in §employment. This has led to a situation in which §more women are being expected to combine roles. §Although the consequences of combining roles have §been studied in women, there have been very few §really comprehensive assessments of the most §important factors involved in combining elder caring §with work roles, and how these factors may affect §mental health over time. This study, combining both §quantitative and qualitative data, found that a §combination of higher-intensity work and caring §roles are detrimental to carers mental health. The §wider implications for carers, care-recipients and §employers are also discussed. The increase in the number of older people within §the population has generated a corresponding §increase in the need for care. At the same time,§however, there are fewer women of caring age in the §UK, and of these, a large percentage are in §employment. This has led to a situation in which §more women are being expected to combine roles. §Although the consequences of combining roles have §been studied in women, there have been very few §really comprehensive assessments of the most §important factors involved in combining elder caring §with work roles, and how these factors may affect §mental health over time. This study, combining both §quantitative and qualitative data, found that a §combination of higher-intensity work and caring §roles are detrimental to carers mental health. The §wider implications for carers, care-recipients and §employers are also discussed.