The Unsung Heroes: The Vital Role Employers Play in Supporting Caregivers

In a world where medical issues like smoking, obesity, and cancer continue to pose significant challenges, there’s another crucial aspect of healthcare that often goes unnoticed: caregiving Approximately 1 in 5 full-time workers in the United States takes on the role of caregiver, contributing immeasurably to the well-being of their loved ones Caregiving is not without impact and should be recognized as an essential social determinant of health (SDOH) that employers need to recognize if they want to have the most productive and effective workforce

It's important to understand that caregiving is not just about assisting someone with daily tasks; it’s about providing care and support to a family member or friend who has been diagnosed with a serious illness, developmental disorder, or disability Caregivers often become the primary source of emotional and physical support for their loved ones, unfortunately, this level of care can take a toll on the caregivers’ career, and it can directly impact the business

Balancing caregiving responsibilities with a full-time job can be incredibly challenging One staggering statistic that highlights the importance of caregiving as an SDOH is the fact that 60% of caregivers experience work disruption, even though many employees remain silent about their caregiving responsibilities for fear of losing their jobs or retaliation On average, caregiver employees miss 32 workdays per month due to their caregiving duties Furthermore, 1/3 of caregiver employees have had to leave a job because of caregiving

Rosalyn Carter

Former First Lady of the United States

Acknowledging caregiving as a SDOH is not just about highlighting the issues, but also finding solutions Employers play a crucial role in supporting their employees’ caregivers Offering flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities is just the start Employers should also look at providing additional assistance programs that can help significantly alleviate their burden This can include:

-PaidLeave: Providing paid family and caregiver leave ensures that employees do not have to choose between their caregiver responsibilities and their job

-EmployeeAssistancePrograms(EAP’s): EAPs can offer counseling and resources to support caregivers’ mental health and well-being and tools and on behavior management strategies for their loved one

-Caregiveradvocacyprogram: practical assistance in managing caregiver duties including assistance completing Medicaid/Medicare applications

-FinancialEducation: tailored financial education program around estate planning and debt management

There are available public resources that employers can partner with to support caregivers including the Roslyn Carter Institute for Caregivers and the National Alliance of Caregiving which offer a plethora of free tools and resources that employers can leverage for their caregiver population.

As we strive to address major health issues like smoking, obesity, and cancer, we must acknowledge the critical role of caregivers in the healthcare ecosystem By supporting caregivers and implementing caregiver-friendly policies in the workplace, we can improve the lives of millions while creating a more compassionate and inclusive society Caregivers are unsung heroes and it’s time employers stepped up their game and gave them the support they truly deserve