Caregiver Preparedness

Caregiving doesn’t clock out, but preparedness can help reduce its innate vulnerabilities.

Author

ieadvocates
June 17, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

Working caregivers are always on the clock. However, when these employees are not prepared to meet the daily challenges of caring for a loved one along with their work responsibilities, it can spill over into the workplace in ways that affect well-being, retention, and productivity. Did you know that, according to recent research, employers lose over $6400 per employee annually in caregiver-related productivity losses? That’s why caregiver preparedness isn’t just a personal issue – it’s a workplace issue.

In this issue, we share what employees and employers can do to get and stay prepared for the inevitable impact of the caregiving crisis on their personal and professional lives. A few small steps taken now can help move you further away from the potential chaos that comes with trying to juggle the dual roles of family caregiving and work. For example, employees who are prepared have a support network in place to help guide them through the conflicting responsibilities of working while caring. Similarly, instead of reacting to caregiver crises, leaders who are prepared lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion. Preparedness is key to building a more resilient, engaged, and compassionate workplace.

We hope you enjoy the practical insights this issue offers. And whether you are a caregiver, manager, or employer, we wish you much success in strengthening your workplace to withstand the impact of the caregiver crisis by being prepared.

Table of Contents

In the news:

Latest research, events, and articles that are making an impact for working caregivers and their employers.

13 Tips for Family Caregivers Who Also Work Full- or Part-Time Jobs

AARP reached out to four family caregiver experts and authors to get tips on how caregivers can maintain both the caregiver role and their jobs. These tips may not answer all the challenges but certainly can help on the amount of stress a caregiver feels (84% of one surveyed group said that caregiving had a moderate or high impact on the stress they feel daily).

⭐Harriet Hodgson, author of The Family Caregivers Guide and a writer for the website The Caregiver Space.

⭐Cindy Eastman, author of True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver.

Most Workers Expect To Become Caregivers But Remain Unprepared For Long-Term Responsibilities

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) , reported that a national survey found nearly three out of four workers may become caregivers for an adult in the future but are unprepared. Unaware of support at work, lack of financial and personal preparation, and not knowing where to go for information are some of the issues shared.

Did you know? (Read our blog):

Our blog brings you knowledge, personal and researched, to raise your awareness and empathy about working caregivers and caregiving.

Caregiver Preparedness: A Responsibility Employees and Employers Share(Blog 6/17/25)

Employees! HR Managers! Employers! Are you ready for the caregiver storm that is steadily impacting US businesses? Often, when we think of a storm, we naturally think of taking shelter, getting to a safe place, boarding up our windows, and securing all areas of vulnerability. Our goal is to protect ourselves and our loved ones long before the storm hits. Similarly, we should engage in acts of preparedness to protect our families and our businesses from the caregiver storm that is steadily on the rise in the workplace. Unfortunately, however, this is not the case. When the responsibilities of family caregiving fall squarely upon our shoulders, we are most often not ready to bear the weight. But, instead of taking proactive steps to prepare ourselves, we wait until we are directly hit with the obligations of caregiving. Then we struggle with the negative consequences that overwhelm us. Not a good situation for the employee, the employer, or the person receiving care.

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Our podcast puts a spotlight on guests who are making a significant difference in the working caregiver space.

Episode 20: Self-Preservation and the Power of the Small Moment with Charlotte Bayala

Episode 20: Self-Preservation and the Power of the Small Moment

This week, we sit down with the incredible Charlotte Bayala, host of the Cancer Caregivers Podcast and a nominee for the International Women's Podcast Awards. Charlotte brings raw honesty, heartfelt wisdom, and a refreshing sense of humor to a conversation every caregiver needs to hear. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or just in need of a reset, Charlotte offers a powerful reframing of what it really means to take care of yourself—and why she prefers the term "self-preservation" over "self-care."

From the invisible weight of caregiving to finding joy in unexpected moments, Charlotte shares her own journey, practical breathing exercises, and insight into how employers can actually support caregivers (hint: it’s more than just checking a box in November). This is one of those episodes that will make you pause, breathe, and feel deeply seen. Press play and feel a little lighter.

Charlotte Bayala is a cancer caregiver advocate, breathwork coach, and the creator of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, a show dedicated to supporting the emotional and mental health of caregivers navigating a loved one’s cancer diagnosis. Drawing from over a decade of personal caregiving experience and more than 12 years as a yoga and meditation teacher, Charlotte helps caregivers prioritize their well-being with practical, compassionate tools they can actually use, especially on the hardest days. Her podcast was recently shortlisted for the International Women’s Podcast Awards in the category of Changing the World One Moment at a Time, recognizing her mission to make caregivers feel seen, supported, and empowered. Whether through her guided breathing meditations, workshops, or powerful storytelling, Charlotte brings a calm, grounded voice to caregiving conversations that are often overlooked. She’s on a mission to change how we support the people who are holding everything, and everyone, together.

Offers: The Scanxiety Toolkit www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual working caregivers share their stories.

Meet Robin Weeks, a real working caregiver:

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“ Caregiving is a role. It's a job. We know it's an unpaid job, but it's also a role…. Caring for your parent as they are aging and coming towards the end of their life has a whole different set of dynamics to it. I didn't realize how much doing that with and for my mother had changed me as a person until after she died.  And I was not only grieving her death, but I was grieving the loss of my role, which had a lot of meaning for me. It was a very purposeful thing to be doing. I never felt the depth of compassion for another person as I did while I was caring for my mother.”

Robin Weeks is a Certified Caregiving Consultant, Coach, and Grief Facilitator who draws on her leadership coaching background and personal experience as a former caregiver to support those caring for aging parents and adult relatives. From her home in the mountains of Virginia, she blends empathy with strategy, helping caregivers build sustainable care plans, strengthen communication, and navigate emotional and logistical challenges. Through her online membership community, Robin offers expert resources, live workshops, and compassionate guidance rooted in the belief that caregiving can be both empowered and supported with the right tools and community. Mypivotalpoint.com

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“ I felt like I could do it all. I just thought I could manage everything.  Self-employed. If I need to run by there at lunch, I'll put it in my calendar, and I'll run by there at lunch. If I need to take her to the doctor, I'll put it in my calendar and take her to the doctor. However, what started to happen as her needs increased, she became more frail and there were more hospital visits and more ER visits and that sort of thing, and then rehab. I had to start cutting back on my client load. I couldn't carry the number of clients that I was carrying initially. I had to cut back, which meant my income got reduced. The impact on me to that, well, I didn't have an employer I could go to. I had to still work because I'm self-employed.”

Recommended media content:

We explore and share with you diverse media illuminating the dynamics and narratives within the care economy - from insightful podcasts to thought-provoking books and engaging videos.

PODCASTS

20-Minute Health Talk podcast is hosted by Northwell Health which cares for more than any other health care provider in New York . On this episode, three experts in caregiving share practical tips, advice and resources to help guide listeners through this difficult and demanding time. They discuss caregiver support groups, planning for retirement, how hospital-based caregiver centers help and how Covid-19 has changed caregiving. Maria Torroella Carney, MD, FACP is chief of geriatric and palliative medicine at Northwell Health, and former health commissioner for Nassau County.  Kerri Scanlon, RN, is the executive director for Glen Cove Hospital.  Amy Goyer, AARP family and caregiving expert and author of AARP’s “Juggling Life, Work and Caregiving” and “Things to Do Now That You’re…a Grandparent”
 

VIDEOS

Amy Goyer, AARP’s caregiving expert, shares the necessary steps children can take now to help their aging parents and themselves down the road. Some of them include determining housing and transportation options and gathering medical and financial information. (By TODAY)

 BOOKS

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank Amazon Customer who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

“This is such a wonderful resource! While it is my parents who are currently the working caregivers in our family as they navigate my elderly grandparents it allowed me to understand what lies ahead for many of us and also empower my parents! Great read or gift for all!”

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

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