Fueling Caregiving Progress Through the Power of Research

Using Data to Create a Roadmap for Action

Author

ieadvocates
October 28, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieAdvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

As caregiving continues to reshape today’s workforce, HR professionals and employers face a critical intersection of opportunity and responsibility. By leveraging research to guide them, organizations can not only build strategies to address caregiving challenges of today but also prepare for the future of work. 

In this edition, we offer expert insights about the impact of underlying data in promoting change. Research helps organizations ground their caregiving strategies in credible statistics that translates into better, more sustainable decision-making. Research has become a powerful tool in helping employers understand the work vs personal conflicts of their caregiving employees, the effect of caregiving on employee wellness, and its significant impact on the organization’s profitability. 

Table of Contents

In the news:

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

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP have been reporting on the state of caregiving in the U.S. since 2015. In this most recent report, it was found that there are 63 million Americans who are caregivers providing essential support to those with chronic, disabling and serious health conditions. This is a 50% increase over 2015.

It was reported that seven in ten family caregivers are trying to hold down a job while conducting caregiver responsibilities in their personal time.

It was also reported that of the 63 million Americans who are caregivers, 29% are “sandwich generation caregivers” caring for both children and adults.

Healthy Outcomes: How employers' support for employees with caregiving responsibilities can benefit

Professor Joseph B. Fuller and a team of researchers independently conducted research utilizing data from clients of Wellthy, a care concierge service employers will partner with to support their working caregivers. Among some of the key findings that describe the impact caregiving benefits have on employees, these were quite significant (excerpt from Wellthy’s webpage):

  1. Nearly 66% (2 out of 3) employees with caregiving responsibilities reported that access to care benefits like Wellthy help them stay better engaged on the job

  2. Conservatively, companies that offer caregiving support are likely to see a reduction in turnover by at least 5-6%.

  3. Reducing turnover rate by even just 1.7% is where caregiving benefits like Wellthy will start to pay for themselves.

  4. More than 30% of employees say that Wellthy has helped them avoid taking a leave of absence or leaving the workforce entirely.

  5. Every decade of an employee’s work career brings different care challenges, stressing the need for benefits like Wellthy that support employees with care support spanning all phases of life.

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.

The Power of Research: Driving Change in the Caregiving Space and Care Economy

Every caregiving innovation, workplace benefit, or meaningful policy change starts with one thing: research. Whether it’s employer studies tracking the productivity impact of caregiver stress, or national studies measuring the unpaid labor of family caregivers, research provides the data and credibility to transition lived experiences into systemic change. In this blog, we discuss the importance of research as a powerful tool for bringing visibility and legitimacy to caregiving as a workforce issue, not just a personal challenge. 

Why Research Matters

Because caregiving often happens within the closed confines of home, the true scope of this invisible workforce remains largely hidden. Studies help to draw out the true economic value of unpaid caregiving, the cost to employers resulting from caregiver burnout and turnover, as well as the mental and emotional toll on caregivers themselves.

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 28: Why Employers Are Missing the Caregiving Crisis with Joseph B. Fuller

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph B. Fuller—Harvard Business School professor and co-lead of the Managing the Future of Work initiative—to unpack what most employers are still getting wrong about caregiving and the workforce. He brings powerful insights, compelling research, and personal stories that shine a light on why caregiving is a business issue, not just a personal one.

From costly turnover in your top-performing talent to invisible presenteeism draining productivity, we explore the real impact of ignoring caregiving needs—and the strategic advantage of doing something about it. Whether you're in HR, leadership, or caregiving yourself, this episode is full of eye-opening data, practical solutions, and a hopeful look at where the future of work is headed. You don’t want to miss it!

Joseph B. Fuller is a Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School and a globally recognized expert on the future of work. He is the co-founder and co-director of Managing the Future of Work, a long-term research initiative at HBS, and the founder and co-head of Harvard’s multi-disciplinary Project on the Workforce. Joe is also a non-resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. His research focuses on workforce development, caregiving economics, AI's impact on employment, and bridging the skills gap. Before academia, he was the co-founder and CEO of Monitor Group, now part of Monitor Deloitte. He is a graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Business School.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual working caregivers share their stories.

Meet Pam Ostrowski, a real working caregiver:

❝

It [dementia] is not the type of caregiving that you can say, as a type A controlling female, I'm raising my hand, that I've got this. Doesn't matter what it is, I've got it. And there are a lot of very strong women out there who are falling into this caregiver role and are absolutely falling to pieces because they don't know what to do. I mean, it tugs and pulls on everything. And then, you know, you're working. So you have to bring your best to that as well. And there's only so long you can sustain that level of excellence across your entire life, including your relationships with either your spouse or partner and your children, and your friends. It takes you and spreads you very, very, very thin..”

As a national Dementia caregiving consultant, author, speaker, and dementia caregiving guide, Pam Ostrowski, provides a path to relieve the fear, anxiety, and confusion that family members experience when a loved one is diagnosed with dementia. Pam is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) ®, and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)®, and is Certified in Dementia Care (CDC) ®. She is also the author of the highly rated Alzheimer’s guidebook, "It's Not That Simple: Helping Families Navigate the Alzheimer's Journey," which is based on Pam’s 14-year dementia and Alzheimer’s journey with her parents. Her website is Alzheimer’s Family Consulting and her her YouTube Channel is called “Dementia Care Support”.

❝

“So, you have to be flexible. You've got to be able to stand your ground and have boundaries… I know entrepreneurs that have none. A client will call at 10 p.m. and say, ‘I need this report’. No, I'm not going to answer the phone. And I'm going to have my coffee in the morning before I return that call because without those boundaries, you can just end up in a huge health issue where you're stressed all the time. You're going to have issues with your disease [caregiving for dementia] and other elements of stress, your relationships are going to suffer. And so it really comes down to what are your boundaries in caregiving? And everybody's boundaries are different. There's no right or wrong to where your boundaries are. Everybody has a different capacity and capability, and you need to pay attention to what yours is.”

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

Managing The Future Of Work Podcast Host Joseph B. Fuller interviews Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, founder of Wellthy. The pandemic underscores US workers’ need for help with caregiving obligations. HBS graduate Lindsay Jurist-Rosner founded B2B benefits company Wellthy in 2014 after realizing that her experience juggling work and the complex care needs of her mother was shared in one form or another by a large segment of the US workforce. She talks about the scope of the challenge, how employers are starting to address it, and what the payback looks like.

VIDEOS

Hear from P&G employee Amy Delgado about her experience as a caregiver for a family member with a disability. P&G is partnering with Care Out Loud to make caregiving more visible, less isolating, and easier for everyone.

 BOOKS

It's Not That Simple: Helping Families Navigate the Alzheimer's Journey by Pam Ostrowski is a guidebook that walks you through what can happen and prepare you for the challenges you face when your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank Allison Negri. who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

“What an important read for everyone. As an owner of a home care agency, Alzheimer's educator, and support group facilitator, the information in this book is invaluable. The story about Carrie resonates with me personally and so many others who are caring for their loved ones living with dementia. Thank you to the authors on shedding light on such an important subject. I highly recommend!”

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.

If someone forwarded you this newsletter, then you can subscribe below: