Caregivers are the quiet backbone of our economy. They need our support | Opinion

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the millions of Americans who provide care for loved ones, often while balancing jobs, families and their own health.

Caregivers are no longer the exception — they are the rule. Chances are you are one, or you work or live alongside one. In fact, 73% of U.S. employees report having caregiving responsibilities for a child, parent or other loved one. And for the first time in our nation’s history, the number of working adults caring for an older adult — nearly 23 million — has surpassed those caring for preschool-age children — 21 million.

Caregivers frequently juggle a day job only to come home to a “third shift” — the endless list of tasks required to care for children, parents or others in need. Millions of Americans now make up the “sandwich generation,” with caregiving responsibilities for both children and aging parents.

Through dozens of nonpartisan research studies, United WE’s research confirms that women shoulder a disproportionate share of the caregiving burden — but the consequences of our broken care economy affect all of us.

An AARP and S&P Global survey found that 27% of working caregivers have had to shift from full-time to part-time work, or reduce their hours. And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that states lose billions of dollars annually because of child care disruptions alone.

This is why caregiving infrastructure is critical infrastructure — as essential to our economy as roads, bridges and broadband.

Kansas, Missouri make child care a priority

Fortunately, awareness of caregivers’ needs is leading to real progress across the country. The most recent federal tax package, for example, triples the employer-provided child care tax credit, encouraging more businesses to offer or help employees find affordable care options. In both Kansas and Missouri, Govs. Laura Kelly and Mike Kehoe have made child care a priority — and policymakers and businesses are working across party lines to make child care more accessible and affordable.

Fixing our broken care economy will take sustained effort and investment. But there are simple and surprisingly affordable steps that governments and organizations can take to make life easier for caregivers.

For employers, remember that simple measures can go a long way, like listening to employees. One company that offered a child care allowance reported in an independent survey that 50% of recipients said the allowance was the reason they stayed with their employer.

Employers can also offer flexible schedules, remote work options or paid caregiver leave. Organizations such as AARP provide training and resources to help managers better support caregiving employees. And if you’re a leader with caregiving responsibilities, talk about them. When executives are open about their own experiences, it reduces stigma and normalizes flexibility.

For policymakers, use United WE’s research to inform cost-effective, bipartisan solutions. Our national study on child care regulations in every state revealed the complicated web of red tape providers need to navigate — from Illinois, which requires day care providers to carry coins on field trips, to Arkansas, where educators used to have to go through two separate sets of background checks. While some of these rules are important to protect health and safety, others are duplicative, burdensome or just plain outdated.

Kansas has made commendable progress on this front, with bipartisan efforts to streamline child care regulations and pass an employer child tax credit. As a result, the state is on track to create more day care slots in the next two years than it has in the last 15.

And for all of us, remember that some of the most important things we can do to build a culture of care start closer to home, through actions each one of us can take in our homes and workplaces. If you’re not the primary caregiver in your household, pick one task you can take on for that person, indefinitely. It doesn’t have to be big: packing lunches, folding laundry, running errands, or managing carpool. Any of these can make a huge difference.

Caregiving is a gift and an act of love, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of one’s livelihood or well-being. So this month, and every month, take a moment to celebrate and support the caregivers among us. They are the quiet backbone of our economy, and their care keeps our communities and our economy strong.

Wendy Doyle is president and CEO of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit United WE in Kansas City.