Why Caregivers?

Why should churches care about supporting caregivers?

Faith communities are entrusted with a sacred mission to care for others. The number of people stepping into the role of caregiver is growing, and churches are uniquely positioned to offer support to this very important — but often overlooked — segment of your community. Creating a church culture that supports the wellbeing of caregivers will benefit everyone — after all, one measure of a church’s impact is how well it serves those in the most need.

This toolkit is designed to help churches implement practical strategies to provide encouragement and care to caregivers and their dependents, transforming what can often feel like a heavy burden into one of life’s greatest blessings.

Caregiver’s challenges can often be invisible or easily forgotten over time.

There are likely more caregivers in your community than you realize. Caregiving is often a long-term process with enduring health and financial impacts. (Data source 1, Data source 2, Data source 3)

43.5 Million

People who have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months

24.4

Average hours per week providing care

23%

Caregivers reporting their health has worsened

$7,242

Average annual out-of-pocket cost for a caregiver (26% of the caregiver’s income on average)

Faith is an important part of life for many caregivers.

Churches have a unique opportunity to extend their resources to the caregivers of the congregation who may simply be too exhausted and overwhelmed to call for help. (Data source)

70%

Caregivers whose spiritual/religious faith has “a great deal” of importance in their lives

42%

Caregivers who attend religious services at least once a week

75%

Caregivers who pray regularly to cope with the demands of their caregiving responsibilities

Build Understanding of Caregiving

Understanding Caregiving

What does it mean to be a caregiver-friendly church?

A caregiver-friendly church provides support to their caregiver members and their dependents by striving to meet their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.

The first step to becoming a caregiver-friendly church is understanding what it means to be a caregiver and what challenges they often face.

Many caregivers don’t identify with the term.

Every caregiver has their own personal perspective on what it means to fulfill this role, which makes it somewhat difficult to define. For many people, being a caregiver is a secondary characteristic, something they do in addition to being a spouse, daughter/son, parent, friend, etc. A caregiver might view their role as more of a job or a courtesy, rather than a part of their personal identity. Because of this, a caregiver may be reluctant to ask for help in their role. Understanding what it means to be a caregiver is essential if you wish to offer your support.

  • Who is a caregiver?

    A caregiver is a paid or unpaid individual who provides care and assistance to another person. The recipient of care may have limitations related to illness, injury, or disability, and includes conditions such as mobility limitations, dementia, behavioral or mental health conditions, developmental disability, etc.

    Caregivers provide assistance with medical tasks, activities of daily living and other aspects of life, such as housekeeping and financial assistance.

    A caregiver may be providing support on a temporary or permanent basis.

  • What does a caregiver do?

    Caregivers provide a wide range of support, such as:

    Personal care

    • Activities of daily living like bathing, personal hygiene, dressing and toileting
    • Assisting with mobility, such as getting in and out of bed or a chair and walking
    • Meal preparation and feeding

    Medical care

    • Organizing and dispensing medication
    • Managing and attending appointments and maintaining medical records and information
    • Managing therapies and treatments
    • Arranging nursing and other medical supports
    • Performing basic medical tasks, such as wound care and cleaning/managing tubes

    Other life management tasks

    • Shopping for food, clothing and other essentials
    • Providing transportation or organizing transport
    • Managing finances, paying bills, planning for the future
    • Housekeeping and home maintenance
    • Managing communication with others
    • Arranging respite care providers
  • Who do caregivers care for?

    Caregivers may providing care for:

    • Older adults, including a spouse, parent, or grandparent
    • Children or adults with disabilities or complex medical needs
    • Siblings, family members or another individual with a chronic health condition or disability
    • Non-family members needing support, like neighbors or friends
  • What’s the difference between parenting and being a caregiver?

    Parenting a child with typical development comes with its own obligations and responsibilities, but parents caring for children with disability and/or chronic medical problems often find these tasks to be much more demanding and unpredictable. A parent who is also a caregiver is providing assistance to their child beyond what is typical for a person of similar age.

  • What’s so challenging about caregiving?

    Caregiving can sometimes feel all-consuming. A dependent might rely on their caregiver for daily living activities such as meals, transportation, appointment arrangements, and personal care. In some cases, assistance with personal care might be required 24/7. This high level of commitment can increase stress in other areas of the caregiver’s life.

    Furthermore, a dependent might also require a caregiver for an unknown length of time, ranging from a few weeks or months to the span of an individual’s entire life. There will be events and crises popping up unexpectedly that require immediate attention, which can make it difficult for caregivers to establish a consistent routine and find their rhythm.

Article

Supporting Caregivers at Church: 4 Questions to Ask

Learn the four essential questions church communities should ask as they work to become more caregiver friendly.

READ THE ARTICLE

Don’t Wait, Get Started Today

Get Started Now

Your church can create a space of faith, support and connection for caregivers.

We’ve identified three primary pillars of a caregiver-friendly church:

  1. Culture
  2. Accessibility, and
  3. Practical support.

The following tools are designed to help you establish a strong foundation of support for caregivers that your church can then build upon.

1. Culture

A caregiver-friendly culture takes steps to emphasize the important work of caregivers through church policy, messaging, and programming. A culture of care is fostered through acknowledging caregivers as part of the family and taking steps to recognize their contributions and share their stories.

Article

Creating a Culture of Care in the Church

Learn how churches can create a culture of care by recognizing caregivers, supporting caregiver-focused organizations, valuing their contributions, and telling their stories.

READ THE ARTICLE

Article

Say This, Not That: Church Edition

It can be tricky to find common ground with someone in a situation you don’t relate to. But following a few guiding principles and learning some specific phrases to avoid can be a good start.

READ THE ARTICLE

2. Accessibility

A church is a home to all sorts of people, some of whom have different needs. Taking the time to ensure your church is accessible to all people with disabilities will go a long way to make visitors feel welcome and seen.

Article

Accessibility: The Heart of a Caregiver-Friendly Church

To make your church a safe and supportive space for caregivers, it must also be accessible and welcoming to those they care for. Learn more about key areas where your church can improve accessibility.

READ THE ARTICLE

3. Practical Support

Often caregivers really just need a group of people they can count on, and the church has friendly faces and helping hands in spades. There are plenty of things you can do to offer practical, day-to-day support for caregivers and their families when things get tough.

Article

Equipping Your Church Community to Support Caregivers

Get tips for how to prepare your congregation to care for caregivers.

READ THE ARTICLE

Article

12 Ways to Support Parent Caregivers

Explore practical ways to support caregivers in need, provided by caregivers themselves.

READ THE ARTICLE

Article

Desperate for Respite: Supporting Caregivers Through Respite

Offering respite is one of the most impactful ways to support caregivers. Discover how to get started.

READ THE ARTICLE

More Helpful Resources

Additional Resources

Get more resources for supporting caregivers.

Fostering a caregiver-friendly church environment is essential for supporting those who dedicate themselves to caring for others.

For more resources, browse our Caregiver Toolbox and connect with our partners below.

Start the Conversation at Your Church with a Screening of the “Unseen” Documentary

Host a screening at your church and invite your congregation and the local community to learn more about the unfiltered realities of caregiving. A screening is a great way to start conversations about the urgent need for support by offering viewers the chance to “see” life from a caregiver’s point of view. Show your caregivers you want to support them by requesting a screening today.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SCREENINGS

Connect with Our Partners

Spreading Sunshine is spreading joy to families experiencing childhood illness.

The world of chronic illness can be a dark and lonely place, and many families experience unique challenges when navigating this extremely difficult landscape. Spreading Sunshine sends individualized care packages to families in hopes of making their days just a little bit brighter.

VISIT WEBSITE

End caregiver burnout.

Designed for families and care teams, the Innerhive app serves as a central hub of caregiving tools, resources, and community. From daily routines, to advance life planning, Innerhive aims to save caregivers valuable time and energy by making it easy to organize all aspects of care.

VISIT WEBSITE

Caregiving with Grit and Grace Book

100 Days of Hope and Encouragement – Wisdom and Refreshment for Every Season of Life

Author Jessica Ronne (featured in the UNSEEN documentary) offers solace for your caregiving journey and extends a heartfelt invitation to view your role through the lens of eternity.

ORDER NOW