More likely than not, you know a woman who is a caregiver. Whether she’s a mom, a daughter, a wife or a friend, she’s part of the group of women who take up 60 percent of all caregivers in America.
It’s no secret: women feel the impact of caregiving more often than any other demographic. They spend more time caring for their loved ones and are more likely to feel the negative mental and physical health effects of caregiving. They also are more likely to leave the workforce due to caregiving needs than their counterparts.
In addition, women caregivers overwhelmingly do not identify with the label of “caregiver.” It’s understandable—they’re a mom or a wife first, and the care and support given to the ones they love simply come with it. But, no matter who they care for, they’re caregivers who deserve to get the support needed to balance work and home responsibilities.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s work on empowering the women caregivers in our communities, workplaces and lives.
How can women support themselves while caregiving?
It’s important for women to recognize the hard work they do every day, even if it feels like a routine. They can celebrate themselves by:
- Asking for help with something you typically handle alone. Take something off your plate to give yourself some time back.
- Practicing self-care—and we mean it! Taking care of yourself is a surefire way to curb burnout, increased stress and preventable health problems.
How can people support women caregivers?
Small acts of kindness can make a big impact. Take time this International Women’s Day (and the many days after) to appreciate the women caregivers in your life by:
- Helping with a caregiving task that she typically does alone, like going grocery shopping or taking a loved one to a doctor’s appointment. Don’t know what to help with? Ask!
- Working to curb burnout and additional stress by listening to the women caregivers around you. How can they receive additional support?
Even when women caregivers are supported by their loved ones and themselves, life can still be stressful. Suprise caregiving responsibilities pop up and a typical day of caregiving can become overwhelming.
A pregnant mother of two was helping her mother at home with her progressing dementia, and she realized she needed someone in the home a few hours a week for non-medical support. She reached out to her caregiver support solution, and with the help of her Coach, she was not only able to find home care for her own mother, but realized she could also get support with finding childcare for her two young children. She also got help finding midwives and doulas in her area that helped her during the birth of her third child.
Most caregiving journeys are layered or complex, and for women especially, there are many places they can receive care and support. When they feel overwhelmed with caregiving, they can get the resources and information they need from a caregiver support solution.
Providing women in the workforce with caregiver support they can trust not only gives them peace of mind at home, but it helps them balance their careers alongside the ever-changing and demanding life of caregiving.
With nearly one million women leaving the workforce since the beginning of 2020, it’s important to focus on their success not only at work, but in every aspect of their lives.
At Cariloop, we meet every caregiver where they are, working to provide dedicated support from our licensed and certified Care Coaches. It’s our mission to relieve the stress and anxiety felt by all caregivers, and our Care Coaches can help women caregivers by:
- Providing support for unexpected events
- Exploring options for childcare
- Vetting medical providers
- Understanding the scope of their needs
- Giving tips about self-care
- And so much more
As we celebrate women this International Women’s Day, take the time to celebrate the women caregivers in your life by helping them with their caregiving responsibilities. If you’re interested in taking the next step in supporting the caregivers in your life by exploring a caregiver support solution for your workforce, contact us.
