Flux and change in the labor market was triggered by the pandemic and amplified by the “Great Resignation:”

Generation X (born 1965-1980) is small, a great baby bust, and they are now caring for the far larger generations that tower over them on either side—often while working full-time.

There is also a childcare crisis, as families grapple with daycare costs that can easily consume 20 percent of their income.

A New York Life study shows that the “sandwich generation” (caring for both children and parents) has become younger and more diverse as a result of the pandemic. Among the respondents, over half of the Millennial caregivers were people of color; 47% men; and 34% LGBT.

The outbreak is taking a greater financial toll on Millennials than other age groups. Fifty-four percent say they’re spending more each month to care for others with 23% spending an additional $200 monthly. Nearly 70% of survey respondents are paying for the extra expenses out of their own budgets.

Inexorable demographic forces created by the two largest generations (Boomers and Millennials) are driving the need for more direct care workers.

On May 19, 2021 TIME’S UP launched the Care Economy Business Council comprised of nearly 200 executives from both Fortune 500 companies and small start-ups to push for fixes to the crumbling caregiving sector, saying it is ultimately part of their bottom line. As highlighted in the New York Times, “Business leaders recognize that caregiving can no longer be a personal responsibility for workers to solve on their own. Read more.

While advocates already see childcare, paid leave, elder and disability care and the care workforce as one united issue, funding streams have remained siloed, pitting one aspect of the care economy against another. But COVID-19 has exposed to us all what happens when families lack access to quality, affordable care.

Spearheaded by the Ford Foundation, last May eight leading philanthropic organizations announced the formation of The Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund, a $50 million, multi-year investment in building a comprehensive care infrastructure that works for everyone and that establishes both care work and care services as a permanent public good worthy of public and private financing and long term investments. Read more.

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare program and Medicaid state option that gives community-based care and services to people 55 or older who otherwise would need a nursing home level of care. PACE was created as a way to give individuals, families, caregivers and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet health care needs while continuing to live in the community.

PACE is established at the State level and the State of Illinois has passed legislation authorizing the creation of a PACE program here. The Village is in contact with State Senator Sara Feigenholtz’s office and will provide updates on the status of the program as they become available. Read more.

From my perspective as a Care Manager, today quality home care for older adults is a real concern. Not only has the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the staffing shortage in home care, there actually is a growing demand. Older adults are choosing to remain in their homes with care instead of moving into senior communities. In the past, it was fairly easy to hire a caregiver in 24 hours or less. Today, it often takes a minimum of a few days and working with more than one agency to identify a worker. And when caregivers need to call off last minute or request a day off, a relief worker may be hard to find. Recently, I had a caregiver ask for a day off and even with a few days’ notice, the agency was unable to find anyone to cover. In over 30 years of working in this industry, this was the first time this has occurred. Fortunately, the caregiver was dedicated to her client and changed her plans to remain at work.

Do not wait for a crisis – do some research and plan ahead. As a consumer of home care, expect to spend more time in the search for a caregiver; be prepared to contact more than one home care agency and to pay $35-$40 an hour. Agencies have to pay a competitive wage to keep their employees as well as to entice quality workers to return to the workforce. Be aware that caregivers work for more than one agency, and each agency is only as good as the quality of caregivers they have available at the time of your need. Patience, planning and an open mind will help you meet your goals.

Ausra and Jeff Robison launched LincolnPark FamilyCare (LPFC) in early 2015 with a deep commitment to addressing challenges, opportunities, and solutions for older adults as they strive to remain independent, happy, and healthy. They take a holistic approach to matching caregivers with clients, taking into account such important elements as specific needs, lifestyle, and personalities.

Commenting on the current changes in the caregiving ecosystem triggered by the Covid pandemic, Robison says, “People are rethinking their options. Do I want a part time job? Am I getting the satisfaction I need from my work? Am I appreciated and valued?”

Robison believes it is vital to balance the needs of the caregiver with those of the client – keeping them on an equal footing and caring about both their interests.

He says, “To keep that relationship strong, the most important thing is to recognize that your caregiver is a human being who is trying to do the best he or she can to care for you or your loved one. If they are drawn to caregiving and are good at it, they are always trying to do what is right.”

He goes on to say, “A good client/ caregiver relationship is one where each partner recognizes that they have a responsibility to the other – on the one hand to care for and comfort; and on the other, to respect and appreciate; and for both to acknowledge the boundaries of the relationship.”

As the need for family caregivers grows, building a strong caregiver relationship will become even more important and is the best way to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

--Ai-Jen Poo, Founder of Caring Across Generations

The Village has many ways to help families through the transitions of caregiving:

For more information, email info@thevillagechicago.org.