End-of-Year Reflections 2025: Giving the Gift of Care

As 2025 comes to a close, the holiday season is an ideal time to reflect on the crucial role that caregivers play in our families, workplaces, and communities. While this time of year is often filled with celebration and generosity, it can also present challenges for the millions of Americans who care for spouses or partners managing long-term conditions, aging parents, chronically ill loved ones, or children with special needs. 

Beyond the traditional wrapped packages, many caregivers provide gifts of their time, presence, and emotional support every day, often at the expense of their own well-being. This season is an opportunity to honor those contributions. Whether it’s doing something to lighten a caregiver’s load, a few hours of respite, or a heartfelt note, small gestures can make a significant difference. 

Looking Back

Caregivers give care to others, but it’s important that they receive care as well. Even the smallest tokens of appreciation can have huge impacts on keeping caregivers uplifted, energized, and focused. For example:

• When was the last time you reached out to a family caregiver just to check in and see how they are doing?

• Have you ever offered someone you know who is struggling with work and care responsibilities to complete a household chore for them, cut their yard, or have a meal delivered to help lighten their load for the day?

• Do you make it a habit among people you know who are working caregivers to pat them on the back and praise them for their gift of care?

• If you are an employer or in HR, have you taken advantage of every opportunity to show flexibility, empathy, and understanding to your working caregiver employees?

  Looking Ahead Together

A new year often brings new caregiving challenges or new opportunities for support. Families can use this season to re-evaluate their loved one’s needs, take a fresh look at care plans, or set goals for the coming months. 

For organizations and employers, the start of a new year is a great time to revisit or expand caregiver-focused benefits. Whether in the form of new leave policies, flexible work options, manager training, or partnerships with caregiver support programs, investing in caregiving employees contributes to increased retention, higher productivity, and a more caring culture.

Final Comments

As we move into a new season of care, we want to take a moment to recognize the now 63 million working caregivers who have stepped into the caregiver role to support their loved ones. Let’s appreciate them for their resilience, compassion, and steadfast commitment. The holidays help to remind us that caregiving is, at its core, an act of love and kindness, and one that deserves support in our workplaces and communities. As we move into the new year, may we all find ways to show empathy, grace, and care for those who care for others.

Until the next blog!

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for caring!