The novel coronavirus outbreak has forced nearly 43.5 million caregivers in the US to make difficult choices regarding the care of their vulnerable loved ones.
Caregivers care defined as anyone who has responsibilities to care for children, parents, grandparents, and even friends, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. And it's a growing population of people in the US.
As the aging population increases and young professionals struggle to achieve financial independence, experts at Pew Research Center predict that nearly 50% of Americans between ages 40 to 50 will be squeezed into the sandwich generation and have to support both an elderly family member and a child. A 2019 Harvard report further noted that this burden will increase due to soaring care costs, unpaid sick leave, and the lack of benefits for working caregivers.
Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO of caregiving resource platform Wellthy, told Business Insider that many caregivers are feeling the impact of the pandemic because social distancing has made many resources like childcare, grocery delivery, and in-home support, unavailable.
"They're now juggling work-related duties, homeschooling kids, providing therapy support for a child with special needs, or quarterbacking care for an older parent who may not have their usual in-home aide or may be isolated in their assisted living facility," she said.
Business Insider spoke with Rosner and Michael Walsh, cofounder and CEO at caregiving support company Cariloop, about how companies can support these workers.
- Have empathy
- Offer flexibility
- Create resource groups for people to share their experiences
- Expand benefits for caregivers
Click here to read the full article. Originally posted by Business Insider on March 26, 2020. Written by Weng Cheong.
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