Balancing Work and Cancer Care: Challenges Faced by Employed Informal Caregivers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Caregiving for a family member or close friend with cancer can be particularly demanding for employed individuals who are juggling work responsibilities while providing care. With an eye toward stimulating research to develop programs and resources to support this vulnerable subgroup of caregivers, this narrative review first describes the financial, work, and mental health impacts of cancer on employed caregivers. Next, critical knowledge gaps are identified and directions for future research are described. The article concludes by formulating an agenda for practice that includes a multipronged effort on behalf of employers, healthcare, and community-based organizations to support and empower employed cancer caregivers. ABSTRACT: Individuals with cancer commonly rely on their informal caregivers (e.g., spouse/partner, family member, close friend) to help them manage the demands of the disease and its treatment. Caregiving, including helping with patient care, performing household chores, and providing emotional and practical support, can be particularly demanding for employed caregivers, who must juggle their work responsibilities while providing care. Although a burgeoning literature describes the toll that balancing these oft-competing demands can exact, few resources exist to support employed cancer caregivers. To address this gap, we conducted a narrative review of the impacts of cancer on employed caregivers. We found that employed caregivers experience significant financial impacts in terms of lost time and income. They also experience a variety of work-related (e.g., reduced productivity, absenteeism) and mental health (e.g., stress, burden) impacts. Going forward, prospective studies are needed to characterize changes in caregiver support needs and preferences at different time points along the cancer care continuum (e.g., at diagnosis, during treatment, end-of-life) so that appropriate workplace accommodations can be provided. More population-based studies are also needed to develop models for identifying caregivers who are at increased risk for poor employment or mental health outcomes so that more targeted support programs can be developed. Ultimately, a multipronged effort on behalf of employers, healthcare, and community-based organizations may be needed to support and empower this vulnerable subgroup.