You’ve maybe heard before that 1 in 5 working adults serve as family caregivers, and that 20 million individuals become new caregivers each year. But did you know that an estimated 50% of people caring for a loved one don’t identify with the term “caregiver”?
For some, it’s a term more closely associated with paid health professionals. For many others who provide care, they simply think of themselves as being a good daughter, a good partner, a good parent, and don’t recognize their role as a caregiver. They take on the same responsibilities as those who do self-identify as caregivers — and experience the same stress — but they either aren’t aware there’s help available for them or don’t think they can/should ask for help.
Of those who do identify with the term “caregiver,” 44% say their employer isn’t aware of their care situation. There are a variety of reasons one may choose not to disclose, but stigma around caregiving often plays a role. Ultimately, these self-identification and stigma issues are a barrier to employees getting the support they need, even when their employer offers fantastic programs and benefits.
Employers, National Family Caregivers Month is a great time to create conversations about caregiving within your organization and spotlight the things you’re doing to support the caregivers in your workforce.
The more we shed light on the work of unpaid family caregivers, the more employees will start to recognize and embrace themselves in that role. Sharing employee caregiver stories, especially of those who have found support, will normalize asking for help and make people feel safe to do so. And the more employees get the support they need to manage care responsibilities, the more engaged they can be in their work and their lives.
Here are five things employers and company leaders can do to lift up the voices of caregivers this November:
If you’re looking for more ways to join the National Family Caregivers Month conversation, check out our toolkit!