This article appeared in the September 2021 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

Supporting loved ones who are aging or with special needs can be a complicated task that many families face. And, as the U.S. population ages, it’s a concern that’s grown into a hidden caregiver crisis that impacts employees and employers alike.

Homethrive is a unique company that acts as a guide when it comes to making decisions for an aging loved one or someone with special needs. The company defines itself as a “high-tech, high-touch, family caregiving solution,” according to Arlene Schiff, Vice President of Client Development at Homethrive.

Homethrive partners with companies to provide their services as an employee benefit. Thanks to a new partnership, MMA members now have the opportunity to take advantage of preferred pricing for those services.

Managing the care for loved ones can be a stressful situation that often spills over into the professional world. It’s estimated that roughly 67 percent of all caregivers end up leaving their job due to the stress of caregiving. Millions are lost in employee turnover and reduced productivity. Homethrive services help reduce stress for employees and reduces the time they spend navigating caregiving which ultimately improves retention, employee satisfaction and productivity.

“Employees are impacted by so many different variables when making decisions for their loved ones,” says Schiff.

“Does Mom need any special equipment at home? Does Dad need to go to a rehab facility? Does Aunt Jenny need physical therapy at home? Do they have new medications that need to be reconciled with old ones? There are so many questions that need to be asked and answered,” says Schiff.

One of the more common situations the Care Guides encounter is working with out-of-town families. Schiff says they routinely field new clients who are sole caregivers but who live in a different state and need support. And this scenario is expected to grow with more and more companies offering remote work to their employees.

Navigating Medicare can also be a major headache. Homethrive has Medicare experts who can provide education and help guide families through the labyrinth-like system.

“It’s mind-boggling, all the different things that Medicare offers,” says Schiff. “The research and education can take you down the Google rabbit hole, and it can take hours. We want to save employees work, worry and stress and the time it takes to do all
this research.”

Taking care of aging or special needs loved ones and the complexities that come along with it is something that just about everybody can relate to. As an MMA member, you can offer Homethrive’s digital coaching platform free to your employees and get an exclusive, preferred rate for upgraded service. Offering the service to your employees as a free benefit buys more than knowledge, education and coordination of services — it buys peace of mind.

See Member Benefits to learn more about how MMA and Homethrive can help you help your employee caregivers or contact MMA’s Brenda Nalett at 517-487-8512 or nalett@mimfg.org. 6