Weekly Newsletter:

March 12, 2025

Women Are Heroes—Or Should We Say Heroines!

March is Women’s History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day.

In this issue of the DayBreak Newsletter, we will take the opportunity to honor and thank women, especially for their role in caring for others—particularly older family members.

Support Systems Especially for Women Caregivers

Women often take on multifaceted caregiving roles, making it essential to have access to a range of support services that help maintain their well-being, improve their caregiving skills, and sustain them in their caregiving journey. These support services include:

• Information and Assistance
• Counseling and Support Groups
• Respite Care
• Home Modifications and Assistive Devices
• Family Counseling

While many of these services are available through local government agencies, service organizations, or faith-based groups, employers are beginning to implement workplace support programs as one way to mitigate the impact that caregiving can have on workers.

Frequently, support services can make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of caregivers. Research has shown, for example, that counseling and support groups, in combination with respite and other services, have positive direct effects on health behavior practices and assist caregivers in remaining in their caregiving role longer, with less stress and greater satisfaction. In fact, women are more than twice as likely as men to say that they would benefit from talking to someone about their caregiving experience.

The historical beginnings of this formal honoring of women in the United States started with the suffrage movement in 1911. This was part of a movement to bring equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.  

And…

*Because of unequal opportunities for women to make wages equal to men’s, 

*Because of unpaid work women do in their homes for their families.

*Because of lower retirement benefits (related to issues stated here).

*Because of the longer life span than men.

*Because these differences in access to comfort, safety, and pursuit of happiness exist over many millennia of human existence...

We want to recognize, honor, and promote women’s lives!

From the Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau:

“The roots of older women’s greater economic insecurity accumulate throughout life, including their different work experiences, average wages, family dynamics and living arrangements, and risk associated with their longer lifespans and chronic health conditions. More than one in ten women aged 65 and older live in poverty.”

Caregiver support services include information, assistance, counseling, respite, home modifications or assistive devices, support groups, and family counseling. 

Women provide ~56% of caregiving for older adults.

From Family Caregiver Alliance: 

There are financial consequences of family caregiving

• 33% of working women decreased work hours
• 29% passed up a job promotion, training or assignment
• 22% took a leave of absence
• 20% switched from full-time to part-time employment
• 16% quit their jobs
• 13% retired early

There are Health Consequences for Women’s Caregiving

There are higher levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges common among women who care for an older relative or friend. 

One four-year study found that middle-aged and older women who provided care for an ill or disabled spouse were almost six times as likely to suffer depressive or anxious symptoms as were those who had no caregiving responsibilities. It’s not only care for a spouse that can affect mental health, however. The same study found that women who cared for ill parents were twice as likely to suffer from depressive or anxious symptoms as non-caregivers.

Minority and Low-Income Caregivers

Minority and low-income caregivers may face additional challenges. The poverty rate for single African American women over the age of 65 is 30.7%; for single Hispanic women, it is 40.8%. For these caregivers, accessing paid sources of care may be particularly difficult. In fact, low-income caregivers are half as likely as higher-income caregivers to have paid home health care or assistance available to provide support for and relief from their caregiving functions. One study concluded that the caregiving time burden falls most heavily on lower-income women: 52% of women caregivers with incomes at or below the national median of $35,000 spend 20+ hours each week providing care.

Take advantage of DayBreak’s free services for caregivers:

1. Family Caregiver Support Program: support groups, online and in-person.
2. Weekly newsletters for caregivers and older adults.
3. Monthly webinars for caregivers of older adults.
4. Free durable medical equipment for fall prevention and home installation items like grab bars, railings, etc. for low-income seniors and caregivers.

(See list of typical items below)

— Susan Musicant, DPT

Injury Prevention Coordinator at DayBreak

We are on a mission to Spread the Love to seniors aging alone.

Your kindness and generosity will make a difference!

💜 How have you spread love in the community? Whether it's checking in on a neighbor, lending a helping hand, or supporting a caregiver, we want to hear your stories! Share with us to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

If you know an elder in need of our care and coordination services, or a caregiver seeking support, please encourage them to reach out to us at: 

510-834-8314