A recent study from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, published in the Milbank Quarterly, explores the effects of Paid Family Leave (PFL) and Paid Sick Leave (PSL) policies on family caregivers providing personal care to older parents.

The researchers highlight the vital role family caregivers play in the American long-term care system, noting that their caregiving responsibilities often clash with paid employment. While the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 offers unpaid leave, it is not universally available. As a result, many states and localities have enacted PFL and PSL policies to fill this gap.

“Care responsibilities can conflict with paid work, especially since about half of family caregivers are employed,” says Kanika Arora, associate professor of health management and policy at the University of Iowa College of Public Health and lead author of the study. “This is the first study to assess the individual and combined impacts of PFL and PSL on family caregiving for older adults.”

Utilizing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, which spans from 1998 to 2020, the researchers employed difference-in-differences regression models to analyze the relationship between state and local mandates for PFL and PSL and the provision of personal care to older parents. The study considered varying effects based on the specifics of paid leave, such as whether it included job protection or provided both PSL and PFL together.

The findings indicate that paid leave policies have differing effects on personal care provision, shaped by program details, caregiving demands, and individual circumstances. Notably, the researchers found some of the strongest impacts among women and unpartnered adult children. However, the influence of PFL on eldercare was significant only when job protection was included. Overall, the study suggests that integrating paid sick leave and paid family leave with job protection could effectively support family caregivers.

“Investing in paid leave may enhance caregiving among employed adult children of elderly parents, alleviating the stress of balancing multiple responsibilities and improving the well-being of older adults,” Arora notes. “However, it’s important to recognize that paid leave policies have varying effects on eldercare, and their design and implementation should be thoughtfully considered.”

The study was co-authored by Douglas A. Wolf, professor emeritus at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.