Showing Support for Caregivers

Showing Support for Caregivers

Many of us find ourselves in the position of having to support family members such as aging parents or grandparents, children, or those with chronic illness or disabling conditions, all while balancing other responsibilities like family, friendships, careers and health.

Caregiving isn’t just a personal issue but one that overlaps with our work environment as well. Recently, GM Financial assisted employees in this position by offering benefits and support to help manage stress that can be involved. Through these contributions, the company empowers and cares for team members experiencing the ever-changing caregiver journey.

Building benefits

Every caregiving situation is different, and GM Financial supports employees and their families no matter what.

That support comes in the form of benefits such as insurance options that start Day One of employment and generous paid time off, including 12 weeks paid parental leave. GM Financial also offers assistance such as:

• New-hire long-term care: For newly hired employees, there’s an option for long-term care that pays insurance benefits if they, or a covered family member, require assistance with at least two activities of daily living.
• Total well-being programs: The Employee Assistance Program helps employees and family members with matters that affect health, family life, finances and more. One service is elder care, which includes referrals for home health agencies, assisted living facilities, social and recreational programs, and long-distance caregiving.
• Ginger app: GM Financial provides mental health support through the Ginger app. Ginger offers on-demand, confidential mental health care through coaching via text-based chats, self-care activities, and video-based therapy and psychiatry — all from your smartphone. Ginger isn’t offered globally yet, but more countries will be added soon.  
• Tax-free accounts: GM Financial offers a Pretax Health Savings Account plan and a Flex Spending Account plan, letting employees use pretax dollars for health care expenses.

Strong support

Learning how to support family members, parents and grandparents in their time of need can require outside help. GM Financial worked with The Senior Source from Dallas to provide three one-hour educational programs to help employees better understand and manage the responsibilities of aging family members. 

The Senior Source began in 1961 as the Senior Citizens Foundation of Dallas. Over the next 60 years, the agency added volunteer opportunities, nursing home resources, guardianship services, financial assistance and protection, fraud and scam prevention, employment services, and support for caregivers. Programs like this benefit caregivers and help them be at their best both personally and professionally. 

Caring for an elderly loved one or a disabled family member can be challenging and overwhelming. There are a lot of questions involved and sensitive situations that must be navigated. However, having a support system, helpful benefits and tools at your disposal can help make the caregiving journey a little easier.

By Alexis Sheprak

Alexis Sheprak uses the Force when it comes to lifting heavy weights, making her a Jedi in the gym and as a writer and content creator. While navigating her own financial journey, she’ll bring the donuts and promises not to glaze over any budgeting tips or insights.