By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Family Caregivers: Unsung Heroes of Healthcare in America
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Finance > Family Caregivers: Unsung Heroes of Healthcare in America
FinancePolicy & LawPublic Health

Family Caregivers: Unsung Heroes of Healthcare in America

KennethThorpe
KennethThorpe
Share
3 Min Read
family caregiving in America
SHARE

November 6, 2014

November 6, 2014

family caregiving in AmericaAbout half of all adults in the U.S. —117 million people— have one or more chronic health conditions, and one in four adults is struggling daily with two or more chronic conditions. Though biomedical innovation has enabled many with chronic illness to live longer and better lives, those with more debilitating conditions often rely heavily on family members and other loved ones to provide daily care and support. All year, but particularly during National Caregiver Month, we applaud the millions of family caregivers for their dedication and recognize the critically important roles they play in healthcare in America. According to the Caregiver Action Network, two in five adults in the U.S. are caring for a sick or disabled loved one, and these caregivers provide $450 billion worth of unpaid care each year.

With 84 percent of U.S. healthcare dollars going towards treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity, it is important to understand that these conditions not only affect the individual living with disease but his or her caregiver(s), as well. And as our healthcare system increasingly evolves to relying on outpatient care and with an aging population, our dependence on family caregivers will grow even greater.

More Read

Who talks more? The Doctor or the Patient?: Infographic
A Nurse’s Letter to the Interns
FDA Shuts Down over 1600 Web Sites Selling Counterfeit and SubStandard Drugs
Health Reward Stat of the Day – Sept 9
Paying People Not to Work

There is a critical need to prioritize caregiver awareness of and education on evolving models of care and treatment advances, the ever changing roles for patients, caregivers, payors and employers, and the policy implications raised by these changes. These are all very real issues needing very immediate attention. Often, healthcare policy is not keeping pace with the needs of caregivers. For example, as we noted in our recent white paper, “Facilitating Full Employment Opportunity for Employees with Cancer: A Call to Action” the law currently limits who qualifies as a caregiver eligible to take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

More needs to be done to recognize the substantial burden of chronic diseases that extends beyond the individual affected and do more to support the millions of family caregivers dedicated to caring for loved ones each day. During National Caregiver Month, let’s each take the time to thank the unsung heroes of healthcare – and our families – the caregiver.

With another Election Day behind us, let’s also take the time to encourage policymakers to do more to relieve burden of chronic diseases on patients, families, communities, and the nation as a whole.

We are all touched in some way by costly and deadly chronic conditions: don’t we owe it to these patients AND their caregivers to do better? 

family caregivers / shutterstock

TAGGED:caregivers
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Head of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division Raises Concerns About Two Proposed Mega-Mergers Between Leading Health Insurers

November 20, 2015
telemedicine
eHealthMedical EducationTechnology

Video Calling Shrinks Distance, Time and Cost in Healthcare

May 21, 2013
Image
BusinesseHealthHealth Reform

High Quality, Low Cost HealthCare Video Interview Series: Dr. Jennifer Dyer and EndoGoal

November 6, 2012

Issue Brief Finds Twelve States Have Obesity Rate Above Thirty Percent

August 15, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?