Published by Communications and Public Affairs 519 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

News Release

January 02, 2006

Workshop to Focus on Balancing Eldercare, Work

The University of Guelph is holding a free workshop aimed at addressing the challenges faced by people who are balancing paid employment with caring for elderly friends or family. It will be held Jan. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 1715 of the Ontario Veterinary College’s Lifetime Learning Centre. Registration closes Jan. 9.

Organized by U of G’s Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, the event features speakers, discussions and information ranging from strategies to save time and reduce stress to ways to find support.

“Helping to maintain independence and care for an elderly loved one when you are also employed can be a very stressful experience,” said event organizer Gillian Joseph, a research associate at the centre.

Stress related disability claims cost organizations a lot of money, and are the number one concern of human resource professionals in Canada – right next to an aging workforce, said Joseph. In addition, caregiver stress has been shown to contribute to a significant decline in the immune system, leaving caregivers much more vulnerable to diseases such as hypertension, cardiac disease and cancer. An estimated 712,000 Canadians between the ages of 45 and 64 with children in the home are also caring for a senior. Of those, 80 per cent are also employed, with some reducing or shifting their hours and losing income.

“These days, it’s not always possible for a person to stop working and stay home to care for an aging family member, and the needs of caregivers can sometimes be overlooked,” said Joseph. “This is a really important issue that will affect many of us at some point in our lives and the knowledge and advice from our speakers will be invaluable.”

Speakers include U of G family relations professor Heather Keller, who will discuss “Nourishing Each Other: Eating and Feeding in a Caring Relationship.” Audrey Devitt Wilson of St. Joseph’s Health Centre will present “Who is Parenting Whom?” Pauline Corcoran, a U of G staff member who balanced full-time employment with caring for her elderly parents, will speak about “Making the Adjustment.” There will also be talks on navigating the system and the important role of family.

The Centre for Families Work and Well-Being is an interdisciplinary research and educational centre responding to dramatic changes in family patterns, paid work, and broader economic and political structures. Founded in 1998, the centre’s brings to the forefront the importance of research, policy development and progressive practices that relate to the changing nature of work and family life.

For more information, call Joseph at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53714 or send e-mail.