Many of your employees have another significant, if not full-time, job – as a caregiver for one or more family members. The duties of those caregivers have been made all the more stressful by the COVID–19 pandemic.

AIM will discuss and celebrate the role of caregivers in the economy at its Human Resources Roundtable on March 16. The discussion will be led by Alexandra Drane, cofounder and CEO of Archangels, and Anna Gosline, Vice President of the Executive Office of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. They will talk about simple, yet effective ways that employers can (and really must) reframe their approach to supporting caregivers in the workplace by re-allocating and describing available resources to support a population that often goes unrecognized.

During the past 25 years, increasing effort has gone into the recognition of caregiving. Some important dates:

• 1996 – National Alliance for Caregiving
• 1997-National Family Caregivers Month declared in a proclamation issued by President Bill Clinton. Proclamations have been continually issued by every president since then.
• 2015 – National Caregivers Day established to honor individuals who provide personal care, physical and emotional support to care recipients. Caregivers’ day was established by the Providers Association for Home Health & Hospice Agencies to dedicate a day annually to recognize and appreciate caregivers everywhere.
• 2022 – February 18 was National Caregivers Day this year. Coincidentally, this year National Caregivers Day fell on the day after we celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17.

Who is considered a caregiver? The term encompasses family caregivers, professional caregivers, independent caregivers, private-duty caregivers, and informal caregivers. A large percentage of caregivers are unpaid, and their work goes unacknowledged.

Many of these caregivers may be invisible to others and sometimes even to themselves as they perform their essential duties. Their work sustains the quality of life of many individuals and their families. Caregivers are usually the ones providing the essentials and necessities of life to the recipient, with responsibilities ranging from assisting with medical needs to activities of daily living such as grooming and feeding.

The National Alliance for Caregiving and American Association of Retired Persons report that, in 2020, an estimated 53 million people in the U.S. cared for an adult or child without getting paid for it. While most caregivers of adults tend to a single person, approximately 15 percent look after two adults, and 3 percent care for three or more adults. The Institute on Aging reports that more than three-quarters of caregivers are female. Females spend 50 percent more time providing essential services than males.

Most employers have employees who perform caregiving responsibilities.   Their valuable contributions can be recognized on Caregiver Appreciation Day or at any time.

For more information about attending the March Roundtable please contact Catherine O’Reilly at coreilly@aimnet.org.