Essential Resources For Caregivers

Sustainable Caregiving Cannot Be Done Alone

Author

ieadvocates
May 20, 2026

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieAdvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

For most caregivers, the challenge is not just providing care, it’s finding the right support to help balance work, caregiving, and personal well-being. The reality is, even the most committed caregiver cannot do it alone. Still, one of the most practical and underutilized resources available to families is often overlooked: adult day care centers.

In this issue, we discuss how these centers provide more than just supervision. They provide structure, social connection, and professional support that can significantly improve the quality of life for both caregivers and their loved ones. If you’ve ever wondered when it might be time to seek additional support or what that might look like, this article will help point you in the right direction. Sustainable caregiving isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing it smartly.

Table of Contents

In the news:

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

This article emphasizes that while caregiving is a rewarding act of love, it places significant physical, emotional, and financial demands on the caregiver. The core message is that you do not have to do it alone, and prioritizing your own well-being is essential to providing effective care for your loved one. Three key strategies are suggested for alleviating burnout:

  • Build a Support Network

  • Optimize Your Daily Routine

  • Practice Radical Self-Care

The article reinforces that caregiver self-care is not selfish—it is a necessity. By utilizing resources and being kind to yourself, you can maintain your own health, which in turn sustains your capacity to care for others.

Caregiving without a net: Poll shows who needs help most

This article highlights a critical gap between the high demand for caregiving support and the low utilization—or awareness—of available resources. Some key findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging:

“Roughly 32% of Americans over age 50 serve as regular caregivers for an adult friend or relative.”

“Approximately 20% of these caregivers are "working without a net,"

“ 34% of caregivers reported that their responsibilities created financial challenges. This burden is even higher (47%) among those who lack a personal support system.”

“Adult Day Programs: … 21% of caregivers have never even heard of them, and only 9% report that their care recipient has used one.”

“Respite Care: … Only 11% of caregivers have used respite services, while 32% have never heard of them.

The poll underscores that while caregiving is an act of immense dedication, it is currently "under-resourced and over-burdened."

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.

Adult Day Care Centers: An Overlooked Resource for Caregivers and Families by Selma Archer

Although most people are familiar with childcare centers, far fewer realize that similar structured environments exist for older and disabled adults as well. Adult day care centers remain one of the most underutilized yet impactful resources available to family caregivers. These centers provide essential care for participants and critical relief and support for caregivers struggling with work, family, and emotional well-being.

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 39: Breaking the Silence on Caregiver Isolation with Dr. Florence Johnson

Dr. Florence Johnson joins us for a powerful conversation about the hidden realities of caregiving, the emotional toll so many families carry in silence, and why support systems still fail millions of working caregivers. We unpack the surprising findings from her research, including the cultural and gender differences in asking for help, the financial strain caregivers face, and the critical role community support can play in reducing isolation.

We also talk about respite care, adult day services, employer flexibility, and why caregiving conversations need to happen openly and often. Florence brings both professional insight and deep personal passion to the discussion, sharing practical advice that caregivers can start using right away while reminding us that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

Florence Johnson, Ph.D., MHA, MSN, CDP is an Assistant Professor and health services nurse scientist at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. With more than 30 years of experience in home care, hospice, dementia care, and healthcare quality improvement, her work focuses on improving support systems for family caregivers—especially Black dementia caregivers—through research, education, and community advocacy. Her passion for supporting family caregivers—especially Black caregivers—is deeply personal, informed by both lived experience and professional encounters that have revealed persistent gaps in caregiver support and access to resources. These insights inspired her mixed-methods dissertation examining the impact of community support services on the mental health of Black family caregivers of individuals with dementia. More recently, she investigated how adult day service programs communicate with and support dementia caregivers, with an emphasis on accessibility and affordability.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual Working Caregivers Share Their Stories

Meet Bryce L. Williams, PT, DPT, a real working caregiver:

Bryce L. Williams, PT, DPT

What do you think are some skill sets maybe that came out of that experience that you used today that maybe you weren't aware of that you had?:

“Definitely resilience. That's probably the biggest thing. It's just like stuff happens, you're like, well, this situation is less than ideal, but I got through that other thing, so this is nothing. …also obviously the nature of my profession, empathy is a big part of that. But when you think empathy in professional mind, you're more directly to the patient. And oftentimes the people taking care of them are kind of in the background or forgotten about or an afterthought. And so I think it's given me a little empathy for those people that I think maybe a lot of people in the various medical professions don't really have as much, not deliberately, just not they're focused on. … people follow me out to the car after a visit and they'll walk me to the door and then they'll walk out the door and then walk down the steps to the driveway. ‘I didn't want to talk with a mom hearing, but I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know how much longer she can live here, but I don't want to put her in a home.’ They're just at the end of their rope. But I might be the first person they were able to actually articulate that to...”

~Bryce L. Williams

Bryce L. Williams, PT, DPT has been a physical therapist for nearly 26 years (most of which has been in home health). He received his Bachelor's of Science in Physical Therapy from Florida A&M University, and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Montana-Missoula.  While in physical therapy school, he was a caregiver for his mother who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (initially diagnosed my freshman year in college).  He started his physical therapy career shortly after my mother passed away.  Inspired by his caregiving experience and subsequent experience educating and supporting the family caregivers of my patients (usually spouses and adult children/grandchildren), he started The Meta Caregiver, which focuses on helping caregivers make sense of what they’re managing, both the visible and the hidden parts, so they can figure out what actually matters, and so they feel supported and seen.  While he still does some in-home physical therapy, his main focus is supporting family caregivers through content and through 1:1 Care Strategy Sessions.

“I would say, try not to take so much of other things outside of [the caregiving] experience so seriously. Try to enjoy the moments. Really try to enjoy the time you do have with the person. You don't know how much it is at the moment. You don't know how much time they have, but while you're there, try and make the most of it.

I know when my mom was doing chemo, she really couldn't do much, both because she'd feel terrible, but also, the immunocompromised because of the toxicity of the chemo. But she really liked to go to bookstores. She liked to go to movies. So when I was home, there would be times where it's like, I want to go see this movie. All right, well, let's try to plan to go on a Tuesday at noon, catch a matinee when there's no one there. So you're not around a bunch of people. You can go to the movie and then go over to the bookstore and putz around for a few and then go home. We tried to do that until she got to where she couldn't do that.

 But I would advise myself to kind of double down on those experiences if I had to do it over again. Try to be more kind to yourself, not beat yourself up over just little stuff that really, in the grand scheme, don't really matter. Whether it's performance on an exam, whether it's running late to pick up a prescription, any little stuff like that is what it is. Just keep it pushing. Don't worry about it...”

~Bryce L. Williams

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

Who Cares About Me? is a podcast for parental caregivers sharing real stories, finding validation, and building community. Who Cares About Me? is lighthearted when it can be, real when it needs to be, with no judgment, just honest conversation, because caregivers deserve care too.

BOOKS

The Conscious Caregiver by Linda Abbit. Conscious Caregiver teaches you how to navigate caring for your loved one, whether it’s full-time in-house caregiving or hiring support from outside services. With information on how to talk to your loved ones about the situation, handle the emotional stress, stay financially secure, and take the time to care for yourself, this guide can help you care for your loved one and yourself at the same time.

VIDEOS:

Adult Medical Day centers / Alzheimer’s Adult Day Services Program. The Aging in Place video series is designed to help our Monmouth County Seniors to age successfully in their homes. The program will be broken down into six distinct topic areas: Accessibility, Home Maintenance, Health & Wellbeing, Financial, Legal and Socialization/Education.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

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

A must read for any caregiver!

A must read for any caregiver, regardless of the circumstances! This is a book full of gems and practical tools to help us care for those we love!

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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