Over the next few decades, the elderly population is expected todouble, meaning more adults will be serving as caretakers to elderly relatives.

A new report from the Northeast Business Groupon Health (NEBGH) outlines how employees serving as caregiversoften don’t perform as well at work, and how companies can providemore benefits to these employes to try and curb negative outcomes.

Right now, 16 percent of the population is considered caregiversto relatives -- about one in six people working. Sixty percent ofthose caregivers are female, 40 percent male, and 25percent are millennials.

Since the elderly population is expected to double over the nextfew decades, it will likely be more common for employers to havetheir workers caring for someone at home.

Related: Family caregivers pay hefty price to care for lovedone

These caregivers do things like helping an elderly person witherrands or household tasks, but more than half of caregivers areperforming medical tasks like injections or working with catheters.On average, caregivers spend $7,000 a year on out of pocketexpenses for their loved one.

Those serving as caregivers are devoting a lot of time to thiscare, with 23 percent saying they spend more than 40 hours per weekcaring for their relative.

This is important for employers, because employees serving ascaregivers miss more work, are distracted during the work day fromdealing with caregivers tasks, have higher turnover and oftenrequire more medical care themselves. The report estimates thesefactors contribute to a $38 billion loss for employers eachyear.

The report lays out these facts and highlights certain companiesthat are adding specific benefits for employees serving ascaregivers.

Some benefits employers are providing for caregiver employeesincluded in the report are more flexible sick and personal days andproviding resources for caregiver support.

There are also digital tools to assist caregivers that employerscould purchase and provide as a resource.

Some specific caregiver benefits the report highlights:Prudential offers health coaching for employees on site, whichincludes financial guidance and advice for adult caregiving. CBSCorporation offers and subsidizes a backup care program foremployees.

Deloitte offers 16-weeks paid family leave, that an employee mayuse for maternity or paternity leave, as well as caring for a sickrelative.

Providing these resources would also help caregiver employeesfeel supported. Right now, 44 percent of caregivers in theworkplace don’t tell their supervisor they are taking care of arelative at home.