LifeCare reports increase in need for backup adult care

SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LifeCare®, Inc., a national provider of personal productivity and loyalty solutions with nearly 30 years experience, is reporting explosive year-over-year demand for its backup care program. Member requests and utilization for the first six months of 2011 were four times greater than the same six-month period in 2010.

While nearly 95 percent of all backup care requests were for children, adult-related backup care is emerging as an ever-increasing challenge. The company experienced a 218 percent increase in adult backup care requests during the time period from Q1 2010 to Q1 2011.

"We're seeing steep increases in backup care requests, especially adult-related care, and our projections indicate that this trend will only intensify," said Peter G. Burki, chief executive officer. "By not offering backup care services, employers nationwide face unwanted absenteeism, stress and lost productivity among their workforce."

Burki points to the 2010 Mercer/Kronos Survey on Financial Impact of Employee Absences, which found that unplanned absences account for 8.7 percent of companies' payroll costs. Providing an integrated productivity solution that includes backup care is critical, he said, since members can seamlessly access solutions for temporary and long-term care needs--as well as related issues that inevitably come with caring for an older loved one, such as financial, health and legal issues.

"A backup care request for an older adult can also be an early warning sign of a more critical issue coming down the road," he added.

The company also reported that the composition of backup care trends is changing dramatically, as members demand solutions that best fit their preference and venue choice rather than just accepting placement within facility-based care models. From January 2010 through June 2011, the majority of LifeCare members requested in-home care from qualified professionals.

Companies that use LifeCare's Backup Care services say they are reducing unwanted absenteeism and employee stress by 92 percent and increasing worker loyalty by 71 percent.

About LifeCare®, Inc.

LifeCare®, Inc. is the global leader in personal productivity and loyalty solutions, serving over 1,900 public and private sector employers and 30 million members worldwide. LifeCare improves employee productivity and loyalty by matching members with high-quality solutions and service providers and providing access to LifeMart(SM), a leading members-only, employer-sponsored online discount shopping destination. LifeCare's proven solutions help employers improve absenteeism, presenteeism and job satisfaction while helping members meet life's most important needs. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com .

Media Contacts: Chris BurkiLifeCare, Inc.203-291-3501CBurki@lifecare.com

Elrond LawrenceFisher Vista for LifeCare, Inc.831-632-2183elawrence@fishervista.com

SOURCE LifeCare, Inc.

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