Standing Up for Family Caregivers

As the year winds down and we are looking forward to celebrating several November holidays, such as Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, I wanted to be sure to include another important one. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor the millions of unpaid family caregivers across the U.S. The 2025 theme is “Plug-in to Care,” which urges us to help connect caregivers with vital support, networks, and educational resources. For many caregivers, the care they give to their family members is a very demanding, 24/7 situation.

Why is this important? The League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVW) recently released its Elder Caregiving Study. The study included interviews with family caregivers and elders as well as an extensive literature review. Some data cited is very eye opening:

• Nationally, by 2034, the percentage of those 65 years of age is expected to exceed that of children under 18. The 75+ population will grow from 7% of the Washington population to 13% by 2050.
• 75% of older adults want to stay in their own homes or communities for as long as possible.
• 70% of adults who live to age 65 will develop long-term care needs before they die.
• In 2023, there were an estimated 820,000 family caregivers providing 770 million hours of caregiving in Washington state—an economic value of $16.8 billion. 
• Paid caregivers, who make up about 16% of caregivers, are also mentioned in the report. There is an inadequate number of paid caregivers available now, and the situation is expected to worsen over the next decades as the population ages. Improved working conditions, including benefits, better training, and living-wage salaries are needed to attract more people to this field.

The LWVW report outlines specific positions that show how both League members and individuals can advocate for better support for family caregivers. This includes advocating for increased funding for programs such as respite care that are affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate, as well as connecting families with information and resources to help them navigate caregiving. It’s also important to fund services that allow older adults to stay safely in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Some challenges extend beyond individual actions, such as how Medicaid determines eligibility for paid caregiving, which can create barriers for older adults seeking care. Addressing these larger, systemic issues requires advocacy at the legislative level to ensure policies better support both caregivers and older adults.

I recently realized that I know at least six households of family and friends in which a family caregiver provides care, ranging from around-the-clock duties to making trips to the doctor as the family member can no longer drive. Some of these families live too far away for me to offer to help, but maybe even making a phone call or sending a note would let them know how much I value the work they are doing. Maybe that can be an action you can take this month, as well as making sure you stay informed about legislative and funding opportunities to support family caregivers and the elders for whom they care. 

I think of the observation that Rosalynn Carter made, which for me rings true—there are four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via email (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

Mark Your Calendars

The following are upcoming events of interest:

• ADS Advisory Council Meeting: Friday, Nov. 14 (noon–2 p.m.); virtual meeting unless otherwise specified. To receive the meeting link and information, email michael.adusah@seattle.gov in advance.
• Civic Coffee: Autumn Cleaning: Thursday, Nov. 13 (3 p.m.–4 p.m.) at Providence Elizabeth House, 3201 Graham Street SW, Seattle, WA 98126. Or online. Contact agefriendly@seattle.gov for more information.