Ways to alleviate the stresses of providing care for elderly relatives include corporate-sponsored assistance programs, informal respite care, a parent care system, nonkin back-up system, support services for the care recipient, and cognitive restructuring. (SK)

Initially designed in response to substance abuse, employee assistance programs are now recognizing needs of family caregivers of the elderly by providing such services as referral, education, information, flexible schedules/leaves, counseling, health promotion, financial assistance, and direct services--respite care and onsite adult day care. (SK)