Acquiring the Family Eldercare Role

Abstract

This study examined the influence of eldercare on three types of employment adaptation at two time periods. The adaptations included short-term work adjustments, leave of absence, and leaving the workplace at Time 1, and three months later, at Time 2. The influence of characteristics of the caregiver, care recipient, family support, and caregiver involvement variables on adaptations was investigated. Women who were employed full-time or part-time prior to caregiving reported substantial changes in that status at Time 1. Caregivers used fewer adaptive employment behaviors at Time 2 than at Time 1. Different sets of predictor variables were found to influence the types of employment adaptations at Time 1 and Time 2. Contrary to expectations, the use of short-term work adjustments at Time 1 did not influence the probability of a caregiver taking either a leave of absence or leaving the workplace at Time 2. Implications for research, practice, and policy are reviewed.