As we embarked on this project, we immediately faced the issue of defining family caregiving. It turns out this was merely one of many terms that needed clarification.
We acknowledge that parenting is a form of family caregiving. By parenting, we mean the act of raising minor children. However, for the purposes of this project, we exclude parenting of minor children from our definition of family caregiving.
Therefore, our definition of family caregiving mainly involves caring for adults, although it could include care for minors with disabilities. We think the easiest way to imagine the difference between parenting and family caregving as we deinfe it here is to ask: is there a predictable time when the care will end? In parenting, there usually is a known endpoint: when the child is no longer a child. In family caregiving, the endpoint is not as easy to define. It could be days, weeks, months or years.
So, that becomes reason number one we focus on family caregving instead of parenting. Parenting has a predictable endpoint. That endpoint can influence the types of benefits organizations will offer.
The second reason we separate parenting from family caregiving is related to the endpoint — it’s the starting point. In most cases, the starting point of parenting is also easy to define. In most cases, it is preceded by a pregancy or an adoption process. Other forms of family caregiving may suddenly begin, after an accident or a diagnosis. There is often little time to prepare for family caregiving.
The third reason for our focus is that parenting already receives widespread support from employers. In fact, in our Directory, we include parenting benefits as Bronze-Level benefits because they at least show a willingness to support employees who provide care. However, the trend we noticed, that many companies ONLY offer caregiving support to parents of minor children, further emboldened our decision to separate.
A fourth reason is related to our perception of the cultural acceptability of parenting versus providing care for an adult. People are willing to share their experiences as parents, but not as much their experiences as caregivers for aging parents, other relatives or friends.
To help crytalize the differences, here are examples of relationships that fit the definition of family caregivers for this website and project. Family caregivers might be involved in caring for:
- Their own parents or other older adult relatives or friends
- Any relative or friend who is significantly ill
- A disabled adult or child
And this would not include a parent caring for a healthy child or children.
Those mothers and fathers are doing important work, but we’ll let another project focus on them.
Types of Family Caregiving Benefits
The Case for Employee Family Caregiver Benefits
The Case for Client or Member Family Caregiving Benefits