AIA Australia has announced the launch of a new caregiver support service, Care & Living with Mercer, aimed at assisting Australians who care for elderly family members. According to a news release, this initiative comes in response to the growing need for support among caregivers, with one in eight working Australians currently in this role.
Care & Living with Mercer offers personalised guidance through an online portal and a national team of care consultants, simplifying the process of selecting appropriate aged care services. Users can choose between two service levels: an advice-based approach or a comprehensive Care Concierge service, tailored to ease the decision-making burden on caregivers.
“At AIA we recognise the valued role that caregivers play in our society,” said Damien Mu, CEO of AIA Australia. “We also know that being a caregiver can be challenging, particularly when making decisions while balancing other family and work responsibilities.”
Mu said that the service aims to alleviate the stress caregivers face while ensuring their loved ones receive appropriate care.
Statistics reveal that caregivers often encounter significant barriers when seeking support. According to the 2022 Carer Wellbeing Survey, 69% of caregivers struggle to find quality services, and 69% express concerns about complicated application processes. On average, employees take around five weeks off work to secure care solutions for loved ones.
“One in three need care for a loved one within the next three months, and yet 75% haven’t had the formal assessment to kickstart the process,” said Will Burkitt, leader of Care & Living with Mercer. He added that the program not only saves caregivers time but also reduces stress, leading to better outcomes for both caregivers and their loved ones.
With projections indicating that nearly a quarter of Australians will be aged 45 to 65 by 2055, the need for effective caregiver support services is expected to grow.
The new initiative is part of AIA Embrace. AIA is the exclusive life insurance provider of the Care & Living with Mercer program.
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