Working and Caregiving: the Great North Dakota Balancing Act

When it comes to balancing family life, working, and full-time caregiving, it can be overwhelming. Does this sound like this you?

Nearly seven out of 10 caregivers report having to make work accommodations because of their caregiving. These adjustments include arriving late/leaving early or taking time off, cutting back on work hours, changing jobs, or stopping work entirely. Roughly 20 percent of the American workforce reported serving as an unpaid caregiver. This number is expected to grow as individuals work longer and begin to care for spouses and other family members.

Caregivers assist with a variety of tasks from bathing and dressing to complex medication management. The typical North Dakotan caregiver is working full- or part-time while performing these duties.

Legislators need to hear from North Dakotans, like you, about the need to strengthen caregiver supports for those who work while keeping their loved ones safe at home.

Tell your caregiving story here.

Over 62,000 family caregivers in North Dakota provide the bulk of assistance to help their loved ones remain independent and at home. Each year North Dakota caregivers provide about $860 million worth of unpaid care.