The Evolution of Caregiving Resources

Broadening Perspective of Caregiving from Private Burden to Shared Challenge

Author

ieadvocates
October 14, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

Thank you for being here!

Two decades ago, caregiving was primarily considered a private family matter. Employees remained silent about their caregiving responsibilities and managed on their own, often at great personal costs. Workplace support was minimal, and few employers recognized the link between employee retention and caregiving. 

The good news is, today the view of employee caregiving in this country is not as bleak as it was 20 years ago. Society has begun to recognize caregiving as a shared responsibility among workplaces, families, and communities. Employees and employers now have access to abundant resources, including digital care platforms and AI tools to help caregivers manage both work and care responsibilities more efficiently.

In this edition, we share insights on how caregiving resources have evolved to support the creation of more inclusive and care-ready workplaces. Employers are offering more support, advocacy groups are more visible and have acquired stronger voices, and data has helped reveal the real emotional and economic value of unpaid care in our care economy.

The evolution of caregiving resources from 20 years ago is indeed a sign of progress. However, it also shows there is work still to be done in supporting caregiving employees who help our families, our economy, and our communities continue to thrive.

Table of Contents

In the news:

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

The Respite Gap: Why Caregivers Aren’t Using Support Services

The author refers to the recently released Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report published by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, to demonstrate that while caregivers would like to have respite, a very small percentage actually take advantage of it.

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The report found that use of respite care is notably low, with many caregivers avoiding such services. The numbers are striking. While 39% of caregivers say respite would be helpful, only 13% actually use it. They cite barriers such as lack of trust, shame, or concerns about the quality of care. Other caregivers say they lack time or don’t see the benefit, according to the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

While technology and abundance of resources are helping give caregivers access to getting support, the author shares this also from the recent report:

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Data from Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 shows many are overwhelmed by complexity, not just time demands, and need navigation support.

Senior care benefits are the next employer differentiator

The article makes the point that caregiving is not just a personal issue. It is a business issue because of the unintentional negative impact it has on the bottom line from things like presenteeism, absenteeism, turnover and pipeline stagnation.

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Forward-looking companies are already investing in solutions that reduce stress, lower absenteeism, and keep employees engaged. Here are a few examples: Backup Senior Care, Concierge-style Care Experts, Flexible Scheduling, Financial Tools and Care Networks.

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.

Caregiving Resources: From Limited and Local to Digital and Global

Twenty years ago, caregiving could easily be described as a private and isolating experience. Although unpaid family caregivers comprised a significant portion of the workforce, they largely remained silent and invisible regarding their dual roles of working and caring. Caregiving resources were limited, fragmented, and harder to access. Fast forward to today, and the caregiving landscape appears very different in many ways. Technology, community advocacy, and increasing workplace awareness have helped transform how caregivers find information, care for their loved ones, and support and connect. 

In this blog, we compare the caregiving resources that were available 20 years ago to those available today, highlighting improvements and where challenges remain.

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 27: Paul Wynn is a Patient Advocacy Leader, Caregiving Advocate and an Author

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Wynn, an incredible caregiver advocate, author, and storyteller, to unpack the complex reality of being in the sandwich generation—those caught between raising kids and caring for aging parents. Paul brings heartfelt honesty, practical wisdom, and real-life strategies from his own caregiving journey, while also highlighting the importance of workplace support for caregivers.

You’ll hear Paul’s deeply personal caregiving story and learn how he juggled family life, full-time work, and caregiving responsibilities. We explore how progressive employers are beginning to respond, the importance of community and peer support, and why Paul believes male caregivers need more visibility and voice. Whether you're a working caregiver or someone who supports them, this episode offers validation, encouragement, and actionable advice.

Paul Wynn has been part of the caregiving community for more than a decade, both as a family caregiver and as a healthcare writer. He is a featured author in the new book, The Caregiver’s Advocate Vol. 2, where he shares his experience as a sandwich generation caregiver, balancing the needs of aging relatives and young children. Professionally, Paul has led communications and patient advocacy work for biopharmaceutical companies, collaborating with organizations like the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association and many grassroots organizations. Through his work, Paul has recognized that patients and caregivers all have stories, but not all of them have a voice to speak up. Giving patients and their caregivers the opportunity to be heard and share their insights and inspiring stories has been the central focus of Paul’s work as an author and communications and patient advocacy specialist.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual working caregivers share their stories.

Meet Nancy Poland, a real working caregiver:

Nancy Poland

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“I would say don't take it so seriously… sometimes things are just funny… I'd lie awake at night and think about it, and I would have so much anxiety… There are so many resources out there… a dozen years later, you have so many resources on the internet, and you have books. First of all, learn about it, but don't get so upset. Like, it's all part of life and part of aging, and there we go leave in a few years.”

With grace and hope, Nancy Poland provides written and spoken communication on caregiving, loss, and other valuable topics. She has held various roles as a caregiver, from caring for children to adults. She was a primary caregiver for my aging parents.  Grace’s Message evolved from my learning experiences and research on caregiving.She wrote two books and contributed informative chapters to two more. Nancy retired from NMDP, formerly known as The National Marrow Donor Program, where she worked in Contracts and Procurement, specializing in clinical trial contracting. A lifelong resident of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Nancy and her husband, John, raised two sons and continue to contribute to their communities. She loves to travel, write, organize pictures, and analyze the plots of English detective shows with her husband. She wanted us to know that October is It is Lewy Body dementia awareness month. Her website is Grace’s Message.

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“I think it's very important for people to understand the benefits available. And again, every company is different, every workplace is different, but you know … Family Medical Leave Act. I think it's really important to understand that. And maybe you're not, well, don't talk to your boss, but you can talk to HR about when I can take this? Am I going to be punished for taking a week off work? Cause my mother's dying. I mean, I wish I'd taken advantage of that more. .”

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

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If you’re looking for connection, comfort or just a reminder that you’re not alone, these 15 caregiver podcasts are a great place to start.​ ​

Paul Wynn

VIDEOS

Do you want to know how to take care of aging parents? This video hosted by Sofia Amirpoor is for all you new to family caregiving. Don't worry, we all started somewhere! Whether you're taking care of a loved one at home daily or on a part time basis, these tips for family caregivers are the place to start! Many new family caregivers are thrown into this new role and are quickly caught up in the chaos, perhaps not realizing that there is a learning curve when it comes to elderly parent care, and they miss the curve altogether! You might feel like you're giving up your life to care for an elderly parent, but it doesn't have to be that way.

 BOOKS

Author Nancy Poland’s books

Dancing with Lewy: A Father - Daughter Dance, before and after Lewy Body Dementia Came to Live with Us by Nancy Poland gives hope to caregivers tending to a loved one with a debilitating illness. Remarkable Caregiving: The Care of Family and Friends also by Nancy Poland is six stories of caregivers who are resilient, inventive, and resourceful. These individual’s stories tell how they incorporated values of family, friendship, faith, and love while caring for another.

Bonus book: We are sharing this again from our 9/2/25 newsletter because the resource is that good and three of the twenty two authors are Paul Wynn (see this week’s podcast episode), Nancy Poland (see this week’s Stories From Real Working Caregivers) and Selma Archer, co-Founder of ieadvocates!

The Caregiver’s Advocate Volume 2: A Complete Guide To Support and Resources: The Caregiver’s Advocate Volume 2 brings together 22 professionals —doctors, social workers, consultants, financial advisors, and more—who understand the real challenges of caregiving because they’ve lived it.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

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

“I found this book very helpful as I am currently just starting my journey caring for my parents. I am an executive that must balance a healthy career and managing and caring for my parents. I will be referring this book to key members of my organization as a tool to assist and understand the burden of elder care and its impact on our workforce.”

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