Caregiving: Challenges and Solutions

Many of us are fortunate to have the resources to be able to handle both day-to-day and unexpected caregiving challenges. What about those who are on the edge of making it—or not? Take, for example, the single mother who is working an $8.00-an-hour job. What if she doesn't have a safe, affordable childcare option, or a family member, neighbor, or friend to leave their child with?

Women's Fund has made a concerted effort to fund organizations focused on caregiving. We have made great strides in central Indiana, granting over $832,000 to address caregiving issues through organizations like Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, Project HOME Indy, Business Ownership Initiative (BOI), Indiana Women's Prison, and John P. Craine House, for example. Our focus has been not only on care of children, but also of seniors. This funding has helped women access affordable childcare, helped homeless pregnant and parenting teens become self-sufficient, and promoted the start of businesses providing reasonable senior and childcare options, for example.

November is National Family Caregivers Month; to learn more and access resources, click here. Whether you do or do not have someone to provide care for, I encourage you to take time this month to explore what caregiving resources are available in our community and consider how you might help those facing challenges in caring for seniors or children.