Caregiving is no longer a niche issue. It’s a workforce reality. At Personify Health’s recent webinar in August “Supporting Caregivers every step of the way: Revolutionizing wellbeing benefits for today’s workforce”, leaders from Personify Health, Cleo and Headspace came together to shine a spotlight on the urgent need for employers to rethink how they support caregivers. In support of November’s Caregiving Awareness Month, here’s a recap of what they discussed.
Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. adults or 63 million people are caregivers[1]. And 73% of employees identify as caregivers, whether they’re supporting children, aging parents, or both[2]. Many more are “caregivers in waiting,” just one diagnosis or accident away from stepping into the role.
But caregiving doesn’t just affect home life. It’s a leading driver of absenteeism, burnout, and turnover—costing the U.S. economy over $25 billion annually in lost productivity[3].
Caregiving takes a toll on every aspect of a person’s life:
Mental health: 60% of caregivers show signs of depression or anxiety[4]
Physical health: Caregivers face higher rates of hypertension, obesity, and chronic conditions
Financial health: Many are stretched thin supporting both their children and aging parents
This is why a whole-person approach is essential. Supporting caregivers means addressing their emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, not just one piece of the puzzle.
During the webinar, our panelists shared what works and what doesn’t when it comes to supporting caregivers. Here’s what’s working:
Personalized benefits that adapt to life stages and care journeys
Integrated mental health tools that are easy to access and use
Smart navigation that connects caregivers to the right resources at the right time
Equity and inclusion baked into every offering, so no one is left behind
Employers who invest in whole-person caregiver support see measurable ROI:
11+ weeks of productivity regained per high-risk caregiver[5]
Reduced leaves of absence
Improved maternity outcomes
Higher engagement and retention, especially among women and people of color
Our personalized health platform brings together wellbeing, navigation, and third-party administration—all in one place. Through partnerships with Headspace and Cleo, we support caregivers across every life stage with:
24/7 access to expert guides and mental health coaches
Real-time assessments that flag burnout risk
Group sessions and personalized care plans
Smart referrals to in-network providers and benefits
Acknowledge your caregivers: November is Caregiver Awareness Month so use this time as a starting point to share supportive resources and tools for the caregivers in your workforce, not only in November, but throughout the year.
Create a safe space: Build up your ERGs to help create an inclusive community for caregivers to share their journeys, receive guidance, and feel a sense of connection without judgement.
Re-evaluate your benefits strategy with a holistic lens: Make sure it supports the whole person, mentally, physical, and financially as well as broaden the benefits to include a range of caregiving scenarios
Join us at our Thrive Summit: Hear from these experts and many more live at our health and wellbeing innovation conference happening in Phoenix this upcoming March.