Caregivers in Rural Areas Lack Workplace Support

A study from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health published in the Journal of Rural Health found caregivers in rural areas often lack the workplace "flexibility and support they need to juggle their many responsibilities," reports CBS Minnesota . The researchers surveyed 635 caregivers who work and live in either a rural or urban area across the country. Generally, caregivers in rural areas received less workplace support than those living in urban areas. Specifically, 15 percent of rural caregivers have access to supportive programs through their workplace, versus 26 percent of employed urban caregivers. Meanwhile, less than 10 percent of rural caregivers are able to work from home, compared to 25 percent of caregivers in urban areas. In addition, 18 percent of caregivers in rural areas have access to paid leave, compared with 34 percent of urban caregivers. "These findings should raise concern about the well-being of employed rural caregivers who are juggling multiple roles with less support from their workplaces," says University of Minnesota Professor Carrie Henning-Smith. "As caregiving needs rise — especially in rural areas — it will become increasingly urgent to find ways to support all caregivers." The study's organizers suggest employers should offer more support to workers who also care for loved ones, including flexible hours, working from home, and paid leave.