Navigating the Caregiving Challenge and the Road to Support

National Family Caregivers Month

A Significant and Complex Issue

National Family Caregivers Month shines a light on the millions of people across the country who provide family caregiving support. Each November, the observance recognizes these people and honors their work caring for those with chronic health conditions or disabilities. According to a report from the Caregiver Action Network on The Caregiving Landscape: Data & Insights on the Caregiver Experience in the U.S.:

Approximately 63 million adults in the United States care for a family member – spouse, older parent or relative, or a special-needs child.
The value of those services given each year by family caregivers is estimated to be more than one trillion dollars – almost two times the amount spent on home health care and nursing facilities combined.
The time of unpaid care was provided by family caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive decline is thought to be more than 19 billion hours.

To further illustrate the importance of family caregivers, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that by 2034, there will be more people over the age of 65 than under 18. This will be the first time in history such a demographic shift has occurred and spotlights the necessity of recognizing the importance of family caregivers, and the stress placed upon them.

Beyond the day-to-day challenges and stressors, family caregiving in the United States carries significant implications for both individuals and society that make support for the caregivers essential. The infographic details caregiver issues, for both the individual and for society at large, that merit attention and a concerted, coordinated national response to help.

Family Caregiving in Perspective

The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, published after three years of work, is the result of a government initiative formed by two Congressionally mandated advisory councils. In this document, the Advisory Councils say:

“Every day, millions of family caregivers put their own needs aside, often suddenly, to improve and maintain the quality of life for others.

“Without the support of family caregivers, millions of people would find themselves with no choice but to move to more costly nursing homes and other institutional and congregate settings. Millions of children would enter the child welfare system (and be effectively in the care of strangers) (Generations United, 2018).

In addition to having a negative effect on the health and well-being of the people receiving care, these changes would come at a significant cost to federal, state, and community social services budgets and the American taxpayer.”

Limited Resources

Right now, resources are limited because the scope and depth of this need has not fully been known or understood until recent years. (see infographic) Support organizations like the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides grants to states to fund services such as information and supports for supports for family members caring for older adults. However, these types of grants are often short-term, and do not always result in the long-term, systemic, supports necessary to sustain family caregivers in perpetuity.

Medicaid offers self-directed services for long-term care in all states, and some states have programs that pay family members to provide care. Because these services are self-directed, they are outside the norm of typical Medicaid services and therefore require waivers that confer federal authorities to operate outside the boundaries of typical programs.

Special Insight: Life at Myers and Stauffer

At Myers and Stauffer, we envision a workplace where awareness, education, and support for aging and caregiving are seamlessly integrated into our culture. That’s why we recently launched our most recent Employee Resource Group (ERG), the Caregiver ERG.

The members of this ERG recognize that many employees will face the responsibility of caring for aging family members or disabled family, and we are committed to fostering an environment that acknowledges these challenges with empathy and proactive resources.

Through shared personal experiences, open conversations, and accessible tools, we aim to empower our employees to navigate the complexities of caregiving while balancing their professional and personal lives. Our goal is to ensure that every team member feels supported, prepared, and valued, knowing they are not alone on this journey.

By prioritizing awareness and readiness, we strengthen our workplace community, promote well-being, and cultivate a culture of care that extends beyond our office walls into the homes and lives of our employees.

Employees have access to the help of eight ERG members, including a firm partner, a director, managers and associates, each of whom have lived experience with family caregiving, as well as to an ever-evolving library of information on a range of topics backed personal experience.

How We Can Help

Targeted and Timely Services

That’s where we come in. Myers and Stauffer has long provided advocacy for those who need care, and for those who give it. We approach our engagements as purpose-driven missions underpinned by integrity, compassion, and vision. We work alongside our clients as trusted partners to help them accomplish their most critical goals for the nation’s most vulnerable people.

Our Consulting team, led by a former Medicaid director, includes highly trained professionals who have specialized expertise and who work every day on waivers, grant programs, and a range of Medicaid services. These programs make possible those very kinds of services, in which individuals can receive the help and support they need, through family caregiver options. Below, we provide insight into a complete suite of services for client agencies that support family caregivers.

In fact, we are one of a small number of firms that has direct, hands-on experience helping states with the operational aspects of health care reform and modernization efforts and are recognized as a national leader in Medicaid transformation consulting initiatives. Moreover, we work in a range of program areas that can be critically important for family caregivers and their loved ones, such as PACE: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, home health agencies, home and community-based services, intermediate-care facilities, clinics, and hospice. Contact a member of our team today.