Effective Caregiving Benefits: Creating a Culture of Compassion and Engagement

BY Stephanie Reed | August 14, 2024

Organizations experience a significant loss in productivity and finances when caregiving workers struggle. The National Library of Medicine reported that caregiving needs can reduce productivity, and cost employers more than $5,000 annually per employee. Leaders are recognizing the necessity of inclusive caregiving benefits and workplace cultures to support employee well-being.

At From Day One’s July virtual conference, Carolyn Romano, VP of product at Torchlight, a LifeSpeak company, spoke on how organizations who request their services to support their caregivers are seeing results.

Economic conditions have emphasized the ongoing necessity of policy reform and intervention to support working caregivers. Torchlight contributes to caregiving reform and intervention using a more contemporary, yet compassionate approach to help employers find and provide optimal resources.

Successful caregiving initiatives include policies that offer flexibility, accessible leave, and remote work options, Romano says. They should also include mental health support, elder care, discrimination protections, and more to take all aspects of caregiving into consideration.

When Romano suddenly experienced a family emergency, Torchlight gave her the support she needed so she could spend three weeks caring for her recuperating mother. “And it’s part of why I feel such a sense of loyalty and appreciation for where I work,” she said.

Carolyn Romano of Torchlight, a LifeSpeak company, led the thought leadership spotlight (company photo)

Torchlight provides caregiving solutions at every stage of life including family planning, parenting, childcare, care for children and adults with complex needs, eldercare, end-of-life, and bereavement. What sets the organization apart is how they offer solutions for diverse situations: care coordination is only the tip of the iceberg – it’s not the central component of their solutions.

Instead, Torchlight prioritizes a digital-first approach to comprehensive caregiving support while still upholding integrity and a compassionate approach to employee well-being. With over 2,000 expert guides, videos, and self-help resources with personalized recommendations, clients become equipped with the knowledge to make decisions and find specific caregiving solutions.

Another major focus is on creating events and community engagement by hosting live webinars and Q&As to support community engagement in the workplace. Finally, is care coordination which involves finding and vetting service providers and resources for childcare and eldercare.

Diverse Solutions for Today’s Workers

Caregiving is critical for several stages of life and requires diverse resources and solutions. For children and adults with complex needs, support involves assistance in navigating complex systems and high-stakes decision-making. Eldercare services support appointments, daily living, finances, and treatment coordination. Bereavement services should aim to support caregivers once their role as caregivers ends.

To address these complex caregiving situations, Torchlight Parenting and Caregiving offers inclusive solutions such as virtual and on-demand fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness programs, digital expertise and one-on-one comprehensive guidance for parent and caregiver support, and digital cognitive behavioral support for workers struggling with substance abuse.

Romano described several ways other businesses can begin developing the most inclusive and innovative solutions for employees. She suggests adopting an innovation mindset, prioritizing the impact, shifting the perspective of caregiving benefits as fundamental to a successful business strategy, removing fear from decision-making, and strengthening the ability to manage uncertainty.

Embracing modern and diverse solutions has the most valuable impact, says Romano. “Being able to provide a mix [of digital resources and human support] and allow people to find their own balance point for how they want to get questions answered, solve caregiving problems, and get to the root, is really important.”

Editor’s Note: From Day One thanks our partner, LifeSpeak, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight.

Stephanie Reed is a freelance news, marketing, and content writer. Much of her work features small business owners throughout diverse industries. She is passionate about promoting small, ethical, and eco-conscious businesses.
 

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