eCareDiary.com Can Help Prevent Caregiver Stress, Which May Have Sparked JetBlue Tirade

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watched his father die of Lou Gehrig’s disease not long ago.

New York, NY (Vocus) August 13, 2010

An obstinate passenger’s rudeness was the last straw for Steven Slater, who ended his two-decade career with an intercom outburst and a slide down the airplane’s emergency exit. Slater helped himself to a beer from the beverage compartment on the way out, providing a memorable flourish to his improvised farewell party for one.

Many have empathized with the workplace stress and air-rage they imagine contributed to the incident. But those close to Slater and his California mother described him as a caregiver under stress. Caregiver stress is a common problem for those caring for ailing family members, and eCareDiary.com offers tools and support to help.

Caring for his ailing parents, Slater faced some particular challenges. His cancer-stricken mother lives clear across the country. His plans for the weekend included flying out to settle her affairs, according to Judy Rochelle, the mother of Slater’s partner. Rochelle told the NY Daily News that that Slater’s mother was declining from lung cancer: “She’s had two chemos and the prognosis is not good.”

This is not the first time Slater has dealt with the stress of a dying parent. Rochelle also said that Slater “watched his father die of Lou Gehrig’s disease not long ago.” California based neighbors of Slater's family also commented that he had cared for his parents.

Most likely, Slater had spent years making long phone calls and extra cross-country flights to join a parent in discussions about topics that likely included end-of-life decisions, nursing home care, and treatment options.

Doctors and psychologists specializing in elder care have long recognized the effects of caregiver stress. Caregivers pile hours of difficult, emotionally draining tasks on top of their regular jobs and responsibilities.

Many employers have noticed the effect of caregiver stress on their workers and some have taken steps to offer help, according to the 2010 MetLife Study of Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs.

Did JetBlue offer an employee-assistance program such as those described in the MetLife study, which would have helped caregivers like Slater find resources for eldercare and stress management?

Male caregivers like Steven Slater face unique challenges, according to AARP’s Elinor Ginzler. Employers often assume that women, not met, care for family members. When men request help or time off for caregiving duties, it may seen as a “sign of weakness or a lack of commitment to the job.”

We don’t know the extent to which caregiver stress contributed to Slater’s behavior, but we hope it will spark some dialogue about the hidden struggles faced by caregivers. See Susan Baida’s commentary on the JetBlue incident and caregiver stress at http://www.ecarediary.com.

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