The Power of Research: Driving Change in the Caregiving Space and Care Economy

Every caregiving innovation, workplace benefit, or meaningful policy change starts with one thing: research. Whether it’s employer studies tracking the productivity impact of caregiver stress, or national studies measuring the unpaid labor of family caregivers, research provides the data and credibility to transition lived experiences into systemic change. In this blog, we discuss the importance of research as a powerful tool for bringing visibility and legitimacy to caregiving as a workforce issue, not just a personal challenge. 

Why Research Matters

Because caregiving often happens within the closed confines of home, the true scope of this invisible workforce remains largely hidden. Studies help to draw out the true economic value of unpaid caregiving, the cost to employers resulting from caregiver burnout and turnover, as well as the mental and emotional toll on caregivers themselves.

Research Fuels the Care Economy

Research drives funding priorities, helps employers design meaningful caregiver benefits, and informs caregiver legislation. Employer-led research from organizations like Harvard’s Project on Managing the Future of Work has been a catalyst for new workplace support efforts. Similarly, data-driven advocacy from nonprofits and think tanks influences state and federal initiatives to support caregivers. 

Moving from Data to Action

When research is humanized through storytelling, it changes minds. It is indeed the bridge between lived experience, organizational behavior, and policy change. Through the use of research findings, employers can implement more meaningful and sustainable caregiver support programs. Research helps employers provide support that caregiving employees actually need because they took the time to ask them.

Comments to Consider

Don’t just take our word for it. Consider these reputable comments regarding the importance of research from the research itself:

• Quote: “Family caregiving research has evolved since its inception in the late 1970s…Recent reviews conclude that a “one size fits all” intervention will not be sufficient to support caregivers.” (PubMed)

Point: This statement highlights that caregivers’ needs are diverse and evolving and that research can help to tailor needed support. 

• Quote: “There is considerable work to be done to secure caregiver-friendly work environment…including expanded benefit offerings. Efforts to incentivize caregiver-friendly workplaces are needed.” (Journal of Applied Gerontology)

Point: This comment helps to underscore the need to close the gap between what current workplace policies offer and what caregivers say they need.

• Quote: “Caring for the caregiver: Why policy must shift from addressing needs to enabling caregivers to flourish.” (Frontiers in Public Health)

Point: Policy guided by research should go beyond addressing gaps to creating workplaces where caregivers can thrive.

• Quote: “Companies that respect caregiving can show measurable gains … Employer-provided caregiving benefits reduced employee turnover by one to seven percent and absenteeism by 10 to 50 percent. For employers, that added up to a return on investment of as much as 72 percent.” (Harvard Business School)

Point: Research helps present a strong business case for employers to improve their bottom line by supporting their caregiving employees.

Summary

Research joins evidence with lived experience to tell the complete story around caregiver challenges, personal sacrifices, trade-offs, and the support caregivers need to be successful in their dual roles. It helps to inform the care economy, employers, and legislators regarding the direction and steps that need to be taken to ensure the future of care is one based on empathy and practical approaches that benefit all involved.

Until our next blog!

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

References:

• Family caregiving research: Reflecting on the past to inform the future. PubMed (2021)

• Journal of Applied Gerontology (2022)

• Frontiers in Public Health (2022)

• Harvard Business School, Managing the Future of Work (2023)