What Employers Can Do

Here are seven measures you can take to reduce employee stress, increase productivity and decrease lost work time due to employee caregiving responsibilities.

1.Offer "cafeteria style" employee benefits which allow employees to select supplemental dependent care coverage to reimburse costs for in-home care or adult day care. Benefits also should cover therapeutic counseling for employees to help cope with stresses of caregiving. 2.Provide information on helpful Internet sites or resource centers. 3.Organize in-house caregiver support groups or coordinate with local community groups or hospitals so that employees can attend an outside support group. 4.One of most critical benefits for an employee with caregiving responsibilities is time. Flexible work hours, family illness days, and leave time are key. Data from Bureau of National Affairs (1993) found that flexible scheduling improved job performance, decreased lateness and employee turnover, and increased job satisfaction. 5.Companies with 50 or more employees must comply with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a seriously ill parent, spouse or child, while protecting job security. Smaller firms can use FMLA guidelines to provide support for individual employees. 6.Hold a company "caregiver fair" or a series of lunchtime seminars on issues such as health care planning before a crisis hits or coping skills for caregivers. 7.Offer private long-term care insurance coverage for employees, their spouses, and dependents.

Employers have a stake in designing responsive and effective programs to support their caregiving employees. Research has demonstrated that cost to employers of lost productivity and other factors related to caregiving employees’ difficulty in balancing work and family is high. Taking action immediately starts to increase productivity, lessen direct and indirect financial costs, and enhance employer/employee work/life relationship – which directly impacts on employee morale, satisfaction and retention.

Michael Christian is President of Patient Advocate Solutions (PAS). PAS provides healthcare navigation and insurance resolution for consumers, employers and healthcare providers. Contact him at (732) 564-9800 or www.pas-now.com

What I had already been aware of was that hydrocortisone and aloe vera could take care of itching and flaking.

So when I finally ran across that information I knew I had found...

My Over-The-Counter Remedy!

And now I'm going to share it with you. Here are products that I use everyday:

o "Equate" Dandruff Shampoo (Dry Scalp)

This is a generic version in comparison to "Head and Shoulders."

Wash your face with shampoo once everyday. Most useful when done in mornings. Easiest done in shower.

o "Equate" Hydrocortisone 1% cream

Rub a little on infected areas of your skin once a day after you've washed your face with "Equate" Dandruff Shampoo.

A better alternative to hydrocortisone is aloe vera gel. Try...

"Fruit of Earth" Aloe Vera 100% Gel. Do not use hydrocortisone if aloe vera gel works on your face in combination with "Equate" Dandruff Shampoo. The reason is because hydrocortisone is a steroid and your face could become dependent on it. If you do not have to use it then don't.

o "Woltra Stik" 100% cocoa butter (optional)

Great for skin, good for scars, and it gives your face an extra glow. Soothes irritation.

I use all four products on my face each day. Three out of four are only necessary if you do not need hydrocortisone to control your flaking and itching.

Other Seborrheic Dermatitis controlling shampoos can be found here. www.dermatology.about.com/cs/seborrhea p/sebshampoo.htm

When I first used this treatment a week later I looked in mirror and saw a huge improvement. Several weeks later my face looked like everyone else's.

To me this remedy is just one remedy out of many. And I will continue to seek out even better answers and better solutions.

I'm reminded when I look back that I have already made one giant step.

No doctor is necessary to prescribe me treatment. Nor do I have to pay high costs for a tube of cream. It costs me about $7.00 for all four products. And they last forever.

I take great care of my face because I rely on my own expertise. Should I ever go on a vacation then I have no real concerns about how long I'm gone. I'll have all of supplies that I need to take good care of my skin.

And most importantly... I will most likely be able to find same type of products in another country if I need them.

This is just beginning. Throughout my years of dealing with this recurring condition I always remember that one solution IS NOT ONLY solution.