Is Paid Family Leave the Next Trend in Senior Care?

New York State is one of the first states to enact a comprehensive paid family leave law that deals primarily with senior care. The new law is scheduled to be phased into effect beginning in January 2018, and over the course of four years, it will increase in the benefits that caregivers and families can reap, including paid family leave. For those New York residents that help care for an elderly loved one, or will in the near future, this is a big step forward. The law, in its current form, will provide for up to 12 weeks of paid leave from your company when caring for a loved one, allowing individuals to better balance their work and family lives.

 

There are many issues that senior care advocates have pointed out with this law, which is titled the Paid Family Leave Benefits Law. For one, it only provides for up to 50 percent of an employee’s salary. There will be a cap on weekly benefits based on New York’s average wages, and as of January 2018, that cap is set at just over $650 per week. These numbers are subject to change over time, but there will be some individuals who still are hurt by this. Also, it is not a true “benefit” in the pure sense of the word. Rather than being funded by the companies themselves, much of this benefit comes through payroll deductions. It also cannot compensate for the burn that companies will feel if and when they lose talent because of the need for providing care.

 

New York’s new law will give employees benefits to care for an elderly family member.

 

Still, this law is a huge step forward for New York. It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming years. Other states are sure to look to New York as an example of how this can be enacted, and many of the issues that are likely to occur will serve as warnings and guidance for other states that also wish to help provide for their families.

 

Caring for a family member is a lot of responsibility. Some people thrive in this environment, but many do not. While there’s no dispute about loving our parents and wanting the best for them, being a family caregiver can be an overwhelmingly difficult thing. Many people find themselves getting stressed out and burned out. While they might have the desire to be a family caregiver, it takes too big of an emotional and physical toll on them. This is why having a backup plan is so important. Having an in-home care service that you know and trust that can provide respite or even fulltime services to your mom or dad is a great way to take some of that pressure off of you.

 

What New York is doing is a huge step forward, but it’s just the beginning of making family care and senior care more feasible and affordable. We hope to see more gains in this area in the coming months, but for now, know that there are many options available to you and your family, no matter where you live.

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