Invisible Caregivers

Caregivers are everywhere. Yet they are nearly invisible in our community for reasons that need to change.

Many are invisible because they don’t think of themselves as a “caregiver”. They are spouses, children, friends and relatives just doing what needs to be done for a loved one. The problem is that when you don’t see yourself as a caregiver, you may not pay attention to the resources available for caregivers.

Other caregivers are invisible because they can’t attend social functions, or even church: they are always on duty. Still others are don’t talk about their role as caregivers because of pride or embarrassment; no one likes to admit that Dad wears diapers.

While approximately 25% of our workforce is providing some level of care, most caregivers remain invisible in the workplace. They are afraid to let their supervisors know how much productivity is lost to caregiving demands. Yet employers today are becoming more enlightened, and recognize that helping caregivers improves productivity, boosts morale and builds loyalty.