Caregivers

Hearts & Hands

There are more than 40 million family members—spouses, daughters, sons, grandchildren—and friends in the United States caring for older adults, a number that will grow dramatically in the coming years. And while many don’t call themselves “caregivers,” they often share that providing care for a loved is a rewarding, yet challenging journey—one they wouldn’t change, but one that requires broad communities of support to succeed.

The Foundation is investing in supporting their journey by elevating the importance of their efforts, strengthening those communities and networks, and by supporting providers whose resources and expertise can make the challenging journey more rewarding and easier to navigate. Similarly, paid caregivers are in more demand than ever as the “Boomer” generation ages. Family and friends rely on direct care workers to complement their support, provide opportunities for respite and bring expertise to the journey. We aim to elevate their critical roles by highlighting the often-hidden value and contributions they make to families and communities every day. We’ll do this by investing in efforts to make these jobs more desirable and rewarding with career paths designed to support their success and fill the growing demand.

Grantee Spotlight

THRIVE

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Special Initiatives

TIGHT KNIT ™

Tight Knit™ is a content series about the many ways people are working to build stronger relationships and communities.

The first season of Tight Knit™ explores the complexity and joy inherent in providing care for an older family member. The stories provide a glimpse into a life stage that is or will become familiar to many of us, as the number of family caregivers grows rapidly. By the end of 2020, an estimated 117 million older Americans will need caregiving assistance of some kind. Increasingly, it’s those closest to us – our partners, parents, siblings, friends and neighbors – who take on the many visible and hidden responsibilities associated with care. And, as our society adapts to the new norm of social distancing, it’s important to consider the additional impact it will have on caregivers. While the stories provide different experiences, they are universal in recognizing the family caregiver as a vital and selfless part of every community, deserving our unlimited support, attention and advocacy.

Tight Knit™ opens a door into the day-to-day lives of caregivers in Southeast Michigan and Western New York through eight podcast episodes and two short documentaries. The podcast series is available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and the documentaries can be viewed on Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s YouTube channel.

There were also several national, regional, and local caregiving and health services partners that helped to spread the awareness of Tight Knit™ and were spotlighted for those in need of their resources.

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RESEARCH & REPORTS

Hearts & Hands

An Exploration of Family Caregiving

To gain a better understanding of the “state of family caregiving,” the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation engaged Practica Group, a partnership of anthropologists and marketers, to conduct research and gain broad cultural insight into the everyday lives of this growing community. By presenting these findings, the Foundation strives to provide fresh perspectives on the life of caregivers, the challenges they face, their successes and joys.

This publication was researched by Practica Group with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

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Additional Funding Opportunities

In addition to its direct grantmaking, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation also established permanent endowment funds (“Legacy Funds”) for Caregivers at the following community foundations. In most cases, the grants from the Legacy Funds serve to support localized projects, for which a smaller grant can make all the difference. In some cases, it may also provide an opportunity to test out ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.