Thanksgiving for Caregiving

November is National Family Caregivers Month, celebrating the more than 40 million people that give unpaid care, three-quarters which is to a family member. Many of these caregivers give so much of their time while also working full-time and providing for their own children. In addition to the $7,000 per year in out-of-pocket expenses, caregivers stand to lose wages and Social Security benefits of approximately $234,000 for male caregivers and $324,000 for women.

So how can these important and precious caregivers balance their lives with the caring?

• Consider possible financial support, and not necessarily straight from the one they are caring for.
• Share the burden, either from another family member or other source, whether professional or otherwise.
• Improve workplace support for caregivers at both the federal and employer levels.
• Improve support for the care recipient.
• Technology advances that can help with support and caregiving.

See Naomi Cahn, Thanksgiving for Caregiving, November 21, 2019.