It’s Time to Talk About Care

It’s time to talk about care. 

A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. This week, as Care.com kicks off its sponsorship of Aspen Spotlight Health 2017, June 22-25, we invite you to join us and our partners — AARP, Dignity Health, and Infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. 

What drives the economy isn’t made, shipped, or traded. It’s care. 

Caregivers like these are critical to our families and economy. We hope you’ll share your own care journey with the hashtag #WhoCares, and take action in your community to help us change the way we think about caregiving. 

"The family I work for let's me bring my 2-year-old to their home while I care for their two wonderful girls. It's the best of both worlds; mom and nanny." – Ashley P., 27, nanny to two children. . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and stories from our caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 21, 2017 at 2:16pm PDT

"In Uganda, we don't have the elderly like we have here. People don't live to be old. I lost my mom when she was young; helping the elderly makes me feel I am caring for her." — Jeninah, 32, caregiver for an elderly couple. . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares. You can view all the portraits in this series this weekend at @aspeninstitute.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 10:33am PDT

"I have never found a family or child that I haven't been able to bond with instantly. I love it." — Erica C., 30, nanny to 4 and 11 year old girls. . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 9:59am PDT

"Kids are my passion. Back in Haiti, family is everything—there are always lots of kids around. Having a career with kids is important to me." — Gabriella O., 27, nanny to a six-year-old boy. . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 8:21am PDT

“I love taking care of kids because I can be a kid myself.” – Denise H., 63, Nanny to a 2-year-old boy. . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.”

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 7:49am PDT

"I started in childcare at a nursery school. There was a little four-year-old boy named Josh. Today he is 44 and I care for his mother, who has dementia. I would never have expected that. being a caregiver, you see how things come full circle." — Barbara R., 66, caregiver for an elderly woman. . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 6:20am PDT

"I was a teacher for many years. I love to bring my teaching background into my everyday caregiving. The little boy I used to care for used to say, 'Miss April taught me everything I know!' " – April T., 52, nanny to two children. . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and stories from our caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 4:26am PDT

"In Colombia, caregiving is not seen as a job. Here, it is a profession. It's what I do, I love kids." — Diana C., 31, nanny to a 4-year-old girl . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 21, 2017 at 6:24am PDT

"It's hard work being a parent and a caregiver but it's worth it. As a mother, I know a mother's concern. Being a caregiver is a serious job; you have to have knowledge." — Shirley L., 35, nanny to a 6-month-old baby. #WhoCares . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about #care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #Aspen #Ideas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 20, 2017 at 2:58pm PDT

"I've learned so much from my families, it's opened up doors and given me opportunities I would have never imagined." — Rebecca P., 24, nanny to a 5-year-old boy. #WhoCares . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and stories from our caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 20, 2017 at 1:00pm PDT

"I love seeing children learn new things." — Sara L., nanny to a 5-year-old boy. #WhoCares . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.”

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT

"My parents got sick around the same time; I cared for them for two years. That's when I found my passion for caregiving." — Lisa M., 45, caregiver for two elderly women. #whocares . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.”

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 12:49pm PDT

"Developing a relationship with a child is the best. I love how spontaneous kids are." — Katie G., 24, nanny to 4 and 6-year-old boys. #whocares . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.”

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 12:51pm PDT

"I feel gratified that I get to be with these people who need me." — Rezzakah N., 70, caregiver for an elderly gentleman. #whocares . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Care.com is a proud sponsor of #AspenIdeas #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care #economy. It's time to talk about #care. Stay tuned for more portraits and #stories from our #caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #WhoCares.”

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 22, 2017 at 12:51pm PDT

"I'm more than just a caregiver. I'm raising champions." — Victoriana, 71, Nanny to 5 and 7-year-old siblings. #whocares . . . . A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and stories from our caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 19, 2017 at 1:26pm PDT

A growing workforce. Changing demographics. Aging populations. In this new landscape, family care has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. It's time to talk about care. Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen #SpotlightHealth 2017. We invite you to join us and our partners — @AARPphoto, @hellohumankindness, and @infor — to start the conversation about the new care economy. Stay tuned for more portraits and stories from our caregivers, or share your own — tag your care journey with #whocares.

A post shared by Care.com (@careatcare) on Jun 19, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

Next Steps: How You Can Help

• Contact your local Congressperson in support of a national family leave policy. 
• Talk to your HR representative about care benefits for employees. 
• Pay your caregiver above board and take advantage of a complimentary consultation with Care.com HomePay. 
• Ask your Senators to endorse the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, supporing 40 million family caregivers. 
• Learn about specific health issues impacting your community and find ways to address those needs. 

Care.com is a proud sponsor of Aspen Spotlight Health 2017. Visit our booth at The Grove or follow @CareDotCom on Twitter for live updates from the conference.

by Care.com Editors

Articles under the Care.com Editors byline represent the collective editing and fact-checking efforts of our in-house team, which is made up of experienced writers, journalists, editors and content strategists. Our content library, which is focused on care and caregiving at all stages, is regularly reviewed and updated for accuracy through a dedicated team effort.

The current Care.com Editors team includes:
• Senior Manager, Editor: Sheri Reed
• Senior Editor: Maressa Brown
• SEO Marketing Manager: Mike Davis
• Contributing Editors: Ashley Austrew, Nicole Fabian-Weber