Crisis Conversations: Family Caregiving

One American in five takes care of another family member or loved one. That's more than 53 million family caregivers in America. Members of this vast, largely invisible workforce were already under pressure prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Many were forced to choose between inflexible or unsupportive work environments, and caring for loved ones who need care. These caregivers are not supported by public policy – the emergency paid family leave law Congress passed last spring actually excluded those caring for aging or chronically ill loved ones. And many people, including those in the so-called sandwich generation, never get a break to take care of themselves. As the pandemic rages, and with a coming aging crisis, how do we begin to care for our family caregivers?

Host:Brigid Schulte, Director, Better Life Lab at New America

Guests:

Debbi Simmons Harris, A family caregiver in Minnesota who had to stop working to care for her son, who has required complex medical care for more than two decades.

Jennifer Olsen, DrPH,Executive Director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.

Jessica Mills, A family caregiver in Georgia who put off her college plans to care for her mother with dementia.

Karen Lindsey Marshall, J.D. Director, Advocacy & Engagement, National Alliance for Caregiving.