Did you miss National Caregivers Day (Feb. 21st)?

It's okay if you did--today is just as good as any to recognize a caregiver

Author

ieadvocates
February 25, 2025

Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

National Caregivers Day is the Third Friday In February

Thank you for being here!

You may or may not have seen all the press about National Caregivers Day this past Friday. It was all on social media platforms and LinkedIn as well. This particular day was established in 2015 by the Providers Association for Home Health & Hospice Agencies, PAHHHA, to recognize and show appreciation to all caregivers.

“The day honors individuals who selflessly provide personal care, and physical- and emotional support to those who need it most. There are different types of caregivers who are not just limited to the health sector. The types are: family caregiver, professional caregiver, independent caregiver, private duty caregiver, and informal caregiver. Some of them are not always paid, which is why it is essential to appreciate and thank them for their long-term commitment.” https://nationaltoday.com/national-caregivers-day/

Whether you personally know a caregiver or not, one of the important reasons why this day was created was to raise awareness about the critical role caregivers play, their challenges, and the fact that most caregivers are unpaid family members. Additionally, many have full time jobs in addition to the many hours of caregiving at home. In fact, in one survey, it was found that 73% of employees had some type of caregiver responsibility.

Here are a few great LinkedIn posts we thought we would share with you that really reflect the true essence of the importance of National Caregivers Day and the need to recognize and thank caregivers:

Whether you’re an employer, business manager, HR, or a working caregiver, this newsletter offers valuable insights along with win-win-win simple solutions to help implement meaningful change for organizations, employees who are caregivers, and their care recipients.

Table of Contents

In the news:

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

National Caregivers Day is Feb. 21. Here's how to offer support.

Korin Miller, Yahoo! Life, February 19, 2025.

Realizing February 21st has come and gone, the intent for sharing this article is to continue to build awareness around the physical, mental and emotional impact caregiving has on caregivers. In addition, the article shares ten great suggestions on how to recognize and appreciate the caregiver in your life. Since any day can be used to celebrate caregivers, the article is timely and appropriate!

Here are a few of the suggestions the author shares:

💎 Groceries delivered to their door!

💎 A calming sleeping aid like a weighted blanket.

💎 A cleaning service.

5 Ways to Support Employees in the Sandwich Generation Managing Child and Elder Care

Chances are you have heard the term sandwich generation. Here is a clear definition of what it actually means as it was used in the study referenced in the article:

“The study defined the “sandwich generation” as adults who have a parent age 65 or older and are raising a child under the age of 18 or providing financial support to an adult child.” (Pew Research Center).

In 2021 when the research was conducted, it was found that a quarter of all Americans fall into this definition. The bulk of these caregivers are in their 40’s (54% of workers in their 40’s reported being in the sandwich generation; likewise 36% of workers in their 50’s and 27% of workers in their 30’s claim the same thing.

The author makes a very good point that the best way to determine how to support caregivers in the sandwich generation is to understand their needs and day to day. Being understanding is one way to support them. To learn more about this and the other four suggestions, please read the article. Read more here

 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.

Alzheimer’s Caregiving: Not Like Other Diseases (Blog 2/25/25)

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. When it comes to caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, it’s an entirely different caregiver journey compared to other ailments. As Alzheimer’s progresses, it can be a rollercoaster ride of unpredictable experiences from one moment to the next. Alzheimer’s caregivers must expect the unexpected, leave the past behind and work on building a new relationship with their loved one each day. 

This blog is a brief commentary to help raise awareness around some of the specific challenges involved in Alzheimer’s caregiving. Before we dive in, here are a few demographics about individuals who care for family members with Alzheimer’s. (Center for Disease Control).

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 12: Navigating Caregiving, Work, and Mental Health—Expert Insights with Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Madhavi Vemireddy, a powerhouse advocate for working caregivers and the Chief Executive Officer at Cleo. Dr. Vemireddy shares her personal caregiving journey—from navigating her son’s congenital heart disease and autism diagnosis to supporting aging parents—all while balancing a demanding career. We dive into the hidden struggles of working caregivers, the critical gaps in employer support, and how technology is stepping in to bridge the divide.

Madhavi Vemireddy, MD is the CEO of Cleo, having previously served as Chief Clinical Officer (as indicated in the link above). A board-certified internal medicine physician, she has over 20 years of experience in clinical analytics, population health, and digital health solutions.

As a working caregiver herself, Dr. Vemireddy co-founded CareTribe, a company dedicated to supporting family caregivers, which was acquired by Cleo in 2022. She has held leadership roles at ActiveHealth Management and Aetna Care Management (CVS Health), designing evidence-based programs that serve over 22 million Americans.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Actual working caregivers share their stories.

Susanne White is the Founder of Caregiver Warrior. When Susanne was faced with the opportunity to care for her parents, she ventured out on a caregiving journey that would change her life. She blogs about this journey on her website, caregiverwarrior.com, and shares her experience, strength, and hope with others so that they too may navigate caregiving with grace and empowerment.  Known for her unique, authentic style and wisdom from the inside of many caregiving journeys, she is an outstanding motivational keynote speaker, bestselling author, gifted writer, exceptional ERG webinar host, and thought leader in the caregiver advocacy community.  White’s latest book, Self-Care for Caregivers: A Practical Guide to Caring for You While You Care for Your Loved One, is now available at your favorite bookstores. Be sure to check out the audio version of the book which is perfect for busy caregivers on the go. Visit caregiverwarrior.com for more information, and follow Susanne on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

❝

“So when my dad got sick and I flew down, we could see that my mom was not really confused, but she was sort of confused and kind of repeating herself.  And he was just exhausted. I just said to him, “Hey, Dad, what's going on?” And he said to me, “Oh, well, you know, she's kind of forgetting things, and it's getting to be kind of hard. And I'm like, “Well, do you want me to help?” And he said, “Yes!” so fast. I was like, “Okay, of course. Good. I got it.  Yeah. I'll help. Absolutely.” Having no idea what that meant or what they needed…  they didn't even know what they needed.”

❝

“No matter how many of us are out there having these conversations, sharing our stories, the same thing keeps coming up…. I feel so guilty, especially in work…. I feel like I'm not doing my job to the full extent. And then when I'm at my job, I feel like I'm not taking care of my parents.  Right? So they have this double edged guilt sword. So it's this constant beating themselves up about their responsibility and their duty and… trying to find a place with that or a safe space with that, or how do I get support for that, or how do I stop feeling that? I hear that a lot.”

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

 Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is a five star rated, top 10 caregiving podcast. The show where real family caregivers share how to be happy and healthy while caring for others. Elizabeth Miller is an incredible caregiver advocate and founder of Happy Healthy Caregiver, LLC (HHC), a lifestyle website, podcast, community, and coaching business that helps family caregivers infuse self-care while juggling other pressing responsibilities. She created HHC because she craved a supportive community like this when her caregiver responsibilities took on a whole new level after her dad passed away in 2014. She had to move her mom, with chronic comorbidities, and her older brother, Tom, with developmental disabilities, from Florida to Georgia. She felt stressed, overwhelmed, and isolated, and her mental and physical health was suffering. As a sandwich-generation working caregiver, the to-do lists were suffocating and never-ending. If you want to hear more about the story that prompted her business, check out the Woman’s Day article on the press page, watch this interview with All Home Care Matters, or check out this news segment aired on national TV. A new episode is published bi-weekly on Wednesday mornings.

VIDEOS

By the age of 85, there is a one in three chance that seniors will live in a care facility. What can we do to keep our elderly parents safe and in their home longer? To stay or not to stay at home, that is the question. This personal and emotional talk from TEDxStanleyPark will inspire you to take brave actions to keep your parents safe and at home longer and prevent premature placement into a care facility. Dr. Roger Wong - [email protected] - is a world-renowned advocate and educator for advancing senior care and well-being. He is a geriatrics doctor, clinical professor, Executive Associate Dean, and the 13th President of Canadian Geriatrics Society. As an international keynote speaker, Dr. Wong has been invited to speak in London, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Seoul, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Melbourne, Beijing, Taipei, and Hong Kong. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

BOOKS

It’s been said that there are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will become caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. Chances are you or someone you know is taking care of a loved one at home. If you do, you also know that caregiving—however fulfilling—is also hard on the caregiver’s mental and physical health. Self-care is vital to caregivers maintaining stamina and a positive outlook for both themselves and the people they care for. But being so busy caring for others can make it hard to find time for yourself.

In Self-Care for Caregivers, you’ll find short, easy-to-read—and often easy-to-do—ways to replenish your mind, body, and spirit, including:
-Practicing mindfulness by focusing in on your five senses
-Remembering to HALT to check if you’re hungry, angry, lonely, or tired
-Making a gratitude list of at least three things you're grateful for
-And much more!

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank J. Goldman who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful review!

Highly recommended for anyone who is currently caring for a loved one or is working in the senior care industry. Chock full of information and insights.

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.

Order Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Book here

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