Supporting Caregivers
Chicago-area employers offer a wide range of benefits and support for caregivers Fact checked by Ros Lederman The number of caregivers in the United States has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. In 2025, about 63 million Americans provided ongoing care to adults or children with medical conditions or disabilities. That’s a 45% increase […]
Sandwich Caregiving
The challenges and rewards of caring for young children and aging parents at the same time Fact checked by Shannon Sparks Emily Ellison wanted to help. She just wasn’t sure how to manage everything. The Wicker Park mom was juggling the demands of raising her 3- and 6-year-old children while caring for her 73-year-old mother-in-law, […]
Caregiver Nutrition
Simple ways to boost healthy eating when you’re caring for others Fact checked by Ros Lederman If you’re in the throes of caregiving, chances are your own care is taking a backseat. Eating nutrient-rich foods is the first line of defense for overall health. Yet, research shows that 50% of caregivers aren’t getting enough essential nutrients […]
New Caregiver Helpline
Peer-to-peer service supports family caregivers facing a loved one’s mental illness Jessica Sabatini remembers the emotional upheaval her family faced when her brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago. Today, she draws on that experience to support others through a new caregiver-to-caregiver helpline specifically for people caring for a loved one with mental illness. […]
Care Refusal
The caregiver’s challenge in approaching care with noncompliant family members Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Her point: Caregiving is a nearly universal experience. […]
Caregiver Tax Credit
Michigan Gov. Whitmer proposes a caregiver tax credit − an idea many Americans support Photo: As the population of older adults in the U.S. grows, more people need care. seb_ra/via Getty Images Sarah E. Patterson, University of Michigan and Adriana Reyes, Cornell University People caring for elderly or disabled relatives need a break – and, […]
Undocumented and Needing Care
When her undocumented mother is diagnosed with cancer, a Latina caregiver faces a tough decision Laura* had two choices as the Covid-19 pandemic wore on: let her mother die of depression alone in Venezuela or bring her to the United States by any means necessary. Before the pandemic, Laura’s entire family had emigrated, like millions […]
Caregiving and Addiction
How caregivers can support their loved one through addiction. Celeste Kranick won’t forget the moment when a close relative, for whom she had acted as caregiver, opened up about why he couldn’t stop using drugs. During a car ride, he expressed frustration about his situation, and Kranick reminded him that he knew what to do. […]
Seeking Caregiver Support
Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition gives caregivers a voice, connects them with resources Balancing a career with caregiving put Amy Brennan in a precarious position. In 2016, the Chicago resident took five months off work with partial pay, through the Family Medical Leave Act. Her mother was in the final stages of cancer, and Brennan needed […]