Zurich Corporate Risk has launched a free digital eldercare service to support those with elderly relatives to navigate the complex world of adult social care.
It is available to all group life and income protection schemes and their insured and uninsured employees.
Provided by Podplan, the online service aims to give users access to essential information in simple, easy-to-understand formats.
The insurer’ reported a 117% increase in eldercare enquiries through its employee assistance programme in the last year, highlighting an increasing need for this type of support.
It was also identified as a contributing factor among income protection claimants struggling with their mental health.
Podplan supports people planning for their parents’ or family members’ future, offering access to care forms, benefits advice, guidance on care costs, vital planning tasks and accident prevention tools.
Nick Homer, head of group risk market management at Zurich, said: “We continuously strive to do more to support the growing needs of our customers and their employees.
“Eldercare is something that we recognised as a vital need and as an increasing workplace challenge, as more and more employees struggle to manage the burden of carer responsibilities.
“We are increasingly seeing eldercare responsibilities as a contributing factor to an employees’ own mental health, and the impact this is having on their attendance and ability to work is growing.
“We are pleased to launch the Podplan service to our customers and provide their employees with the support and tools needed to help navigate the difficulties one faces when caring for an elderly parent.”
Jackie Cleaveland, director at Podplan, added the key was help prevent people reaching times of chaos along with helping during it.
“So many of the difficulties that people encounter with eldercare arise simply from being poorly prepared,“ she said.
“The necessary steps haven’t been taken to mitigate against or avoid the various pitfalls that might occur, resulting not only in stress but also worse outcomes; for example, a loved one going into a care home when it could have been avoided.“