The Caregiver Financial Crisis

Did you know that employers lose almost $34 billion annually as a result of caregiving issues

encountered by their employees? So states a recent communication from Robert Boggio at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Are you are caregiver or an employer to caregivers? Here are some action steps:

1. If you want to learn more, dial into their October 7 conference call (information below).

2.Share your story in the Hot Mommas Project case study launching October 13 at http://www.HotMommasProject.org. Be a role model for other caregivers.

Other caregiving facts from Boggio:

* There are an estimated 44 million caregivers in the US

* 60% of caregivers work full or part time

* As mentioned previously, loss of productivity to employers due to employed caregiver activities is almost $34 billion per year

With statistics like these it is not surprising that CMS' Acting Administrator Kerry Weems has chosen caregiving as one of his priorities and has dedicated an entire initiative to helping caregivers across the spectrum cope more effectively with the challenges they face. 

Please join us for the next CMS Employer Forum Conference Call scheduled for Tuesday October 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm (Eastern) when we will highlight recent CMS efforts to make employers and employed caregivers more aware of how attempts to balance work and caregiver responsibilities can affect workplace operations.

The Agenda with call-in instructions and Resource materials are attached.

To join the conference, please call 1-888-322-3914 and tell the operator that you wish to join the conference titled "Forum".

You may dial-in up to ten minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

We hope you can join us on October 7th!