Happy New Year! I recently read that a new year gives us 365 opportunities. Think about that for a minute, and ask yourself what’s important to you this year. 2025 sped by. Before we blink, 2026 will be in the rearview mirror, too. How about we all make a pact to live fully this year?
I’ve written about caregiving over the years. The financial, emotional, and workplace impacts of family caregiving can be lonely and debilitating for caregivers. The evolving needs and priorities of family caregivers nationwide in 2025 include:
- Caregiving takes a toll on the physical and emotional health of caregivers; one in five rate their health as fair or poor
- Nearly 1 in 4 Americans is a family caregiver—a staggering 45% increase from 2015
- Most care recipients are older adults; nearly half are 75+ and most face multiple chronic health conditions
- Caregivers spend an average of 27 hours per week providing care, and 24% provide 40 or more hours a week
- Half of all working caregivers experience an impact on their employment
- Nearly half of caregivers report at least one negative financial impact from their caregiving responsibilities, including taking on debt, losing earnings from work displacement, not saving money, and using up short-term savings
Caregiving is a Journey
Many adults find themselves caught in the middle—supporting aging parents while still caring for children, managing work, relationships, and their own health. It’s a season that often comes with chronic stress, emotional overload, and very little space to pause.
All of this applied to me, and I had no idea what caregiving was about. All I knew was that my Dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he had taken care of everything at home.
Now what, I asked myself? I was living 8,000 miles away from my hometown, working a full-time job with a company that fortunately had its headquarters office just3 hours from my hometown. My boss had a heart and helped me relocate back to the States. That was a start!
Finding a place to live, figuring out the new work responsibilities in a new environment, and sorting out things with my parents began. I was not a 24/7 caregiver, yet I was on call 24/7. I could have used some help with managing stress. Thank heavens for family and friends ❣️
Image by CSU-Extension from Pixabay
Starting January 14th
Many adults find themselves caught in the middle—supporting aging parents while still caring for children, managing work, relationships, and their own health. It’s a season that often comes with chronic stress, emotional overload, and very little space to pause.
- If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in a doctor’s office with your parents’ medical file on your lap,
Or taken a crisis call from anyone in your family from the office or the store, - And/or tried to juggle work emails, kid activities, and your parents’ latest test results all in the same afternoon,
- Or know someone who is caregiving now …
Lucy Seligman – LucySeligman.com and I are hosting a supportive, a LIVE Zoom four-part educational series on Wednesdays, January 14th through February 4th, from 9:00–10:15 AM (PT for those navigating the overwhelm of being a caregiver in multiple directions.
During this workshop, participants will explore:
• Why this stage of life feels uniquely overwhelming (and why it’s not a personal failure)
• How ongoing caregiving stress affects the nervous system and overall health
• Practical tools to reduce overwhelm and restore a sense of steadiness
• Ways to care for yourself without adding more to your already-full plate
This workshop is designed to be a compassionate space—grounded, practical, and validating—for anyone feeling stretched thin while caring for others. Learn More and Register for the series here: Caught in the Middle
Contact me anytime to learn more about how I work with individuals, business owners, and employees via Email or online @ The Living Planner. Book a Time with Lynn for a complimentary 30-minute Zoom with me.
Quote of the week: “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have” -Margaret Mead
No one should have to carry it all alone ❣️Lynn
#Can’tPredictCanPrepare #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness