Cambridge Caregivers Celebrates International Women’s Day
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and part of Women’s History Month, a time to highlight the contributions of women in history and contemporary society.
Women’s History Month typically focuses on “female firsts” – heads of state, business leaders and pioneers of science, many of whom weren’t recognized in their own time.
But we think it’s also important to highlight those women who are often unsung heroes – caregivers, paid or unpaid, who care compassionately for seniors and others with special needs.
At Cambridge Caregivers, about 80% of our caregivers based in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas are women. Many grew up handling caregiving tasks in their own families. Our team also includes many excellent male caregivers, of course, but females make up a large portion of our team. That’s reflective of the entire caregiving workforce.
Part of our “why” as a company is to offer an indispensable service: caregiving that provides respite for family caregivers who might otherwise be “on duty” 24/7. And the reality is, most of them are women. They are the wives, daughters and sisters who care for loved ones who need help with daily living.
Policymakers estimate the market value of the informal, unpaid care provided by women ranges from $148 billion to $188 billion annually. Many of those family caregivers juggle caregiving with careers, childcare and other family responsibilities.
Why are more women caregivers? Researchers believe the reasons include societal expectations combined with love and gratitude. Studies suggest that women express a greater sense of responsibility toward family members.
While men are sharing in caregiving tasks more than in the past, women still shoulder the major burden of care. That can lead to stress, strain and exhaustion. Research shows that women who care for their parents are twice as likely to suffer from depressive or anxious symptoms as non-caregivers. They’re also less likely to be taking care of their own health needs. That’s why respite care is so essential.
As we celebrate the many accomplishments of women this month, we honor the contributions all women making lives better by caring for others.