Two new studies from the MetLife Mature Market Institute document in detail what many professionals in aging have observed informally: The financial impact of caring for older adults is considerable for both caregivers and their employers:

The MetLife Caregiving Cost Study: Productivity Losses to U.S. Business found that the total cost to U.S. companies of 15.9 million full-time workers engaged in caregiving in 2006 is $33.6 billion. The study attributes about half of this amount ($17.1 billion) to the 7 million employees who bear the more intensive care loads. These workers cost employers $2,441 per year on average due to such factors as absenteeism and workday interruptions. Prepared in conjunction with the National Alliance for Caregiving, Bethesda, Md., the study was conducted by a research team from Towson University, Towson, Md., and Portland State University, Portland, Ore.

The MetLife Study of Alzheimer's Disease: The Caregiving Experience compared the costs of paid and unpaid care for care recipients with dementia and those with serious physical problems who do not have dementia. The study determined that the dollar value of family caregiving for Alzheimer's care recipients is 41 percent higher than for care recipients without Alzheimer's -- approximately $77,500 versus approximately $59,000. The number of Americans with dementia, now about 4.5 million, is expected to triple to 13.2 million by 2050. The study was conducted by LifePlans, Waltham, Mass.

Both reports are available free of charge on the MetLife Mature Market Institute website; click on "What's New?"

Illustration: Courtesy MetLife

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