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Torchlight to Mark National Family Caregiver Month and Host Conversation with the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Rosalynn Carter Institute

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COVID-19 is compounding our already acute national caregiving crisis and is a recipe for prolonged work-life strain requiring intervention at the highest levels of policy and the workplace.


BOSTON (PRWEB)

Torchlight, a leading provider of employee-caregiver support solutions, will host “Flattening the Caregiver Crisis Curve” webinar on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 1 p.m. Eastern. This free open-to-the-public webinar will feature C. Grace Whiting, J.D., President and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), and Jennifer Olsen, DrPH, Executive Director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI).

According to the Torchlight Report of Working Caregiver Concerns, employees across the country are self-reporting a 35.5% rise in anxiety and depression since mid-March 2020 as they juggle their work lives and families. RCI also recently found in “Caregivers in Crisis,” a report on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of caregivers that 83% of caregivers reported increased stress related to caregiving since the start of the pandemic. In addition, survey participants also reported a decrease in help and support, increased isolation, concerns about financial instability, and a debilitating impact on their overall mental and physical health. There are an estimated 53 million caregivers in the United States, up from the estimated 43.5 million caregivers in 2015, according to the recent Caregiving in the US report from AARP and NAC.

During the webinar, Adam Goldberg, M.Ed., CEO and founder of Torchlight, and Carolyn Romano, Vice President of Product, will discuss with the panelists the impact COVID-19 is having on family caregivers, who are also balancing the demands of work. The panel will discuss:

  • Challenges facing working family caregivers

  • Possible solutions to improve the health, strength and resilience of caregivers

  • Crossover caregiver skills that employers should embrace

  • Importance of sharing personal experiences and stories to break down barriers and enhance dialogue in the workplace

“COVID-19 is compounding our already acute national caregiving crisis and is a recipe for prolonged work-life strain requiring intervention at the highest levels of policy and the workplace,” said Goldberg. “And, this unprecedented circumstance is also serving to exacerbate gender equity and racial justice issues. We hope that this discussion will serve as a call to action for unifying key stakeholders to solve this complex problem.”

What: Flattening the Caregiving Crisis Curve

When: November 18, 2020 at 1 p.m. Eastern

Registration: Registration is available online here

Who: C. Grace Whiting, J.D., President and CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving; Jennifer Olsen, DrPH, Executive Director, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving

At thirty-two, C. Grace Whiting was named President/CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, a Washington, DC coalition that has worked to build partnerships in research, advocacy, and innovation to make life better for family caregivers since 1997. In partnership with AARP, NAC has led the Caregiving in the U.S. study since 1997. In addition to her role at NAC, Grace serves at the U.S. representative on the Governing Board of the International Alliance for Carer Organizations.

Dr. Jennifer Olsen, an experienced epidemiologist, serves as executive director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI), which promotes the health, strength and resilience of caregivers throughout the United States. Prior to joining RCI, Olsen managed the Ending Pandemics in Our Lifetime initiative at the Skoll Global Threats Fund.

About the National Alliance for Caregiving

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy. The Alliance conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. Recognizing that family caregivers provide important societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those they care for; the Alliance supports a network of more than 80 state and local caregiving coalitions and serves as Secretariat for the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO). Learn more at https://www.caregiving.org/

About RCI

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving promotes the health, strength, and resilience of caregivers throughout the United States. Established in 1987 by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the Institute’s priority is the unpaid family caregiver: those individuals who care for a relative, friend, or loved one. To learn more about RCI, its advocacy, how to participate in programs or build a partnership, visit http://www.rosalynncarter.org.

About Torchlight

At Torchlight, we believe that caring is everyone’s business and caring is good business. We are the only complete caregiver support solution for employers and member organizations. We offer solutions informed by data and, thus, are built for better results. Our approach includes a user-friendly digital platform and a team of expert advisors. No matter the age, stage or concern, Torchlight’s decision-support tools, caregiving knowledge base, and human expertise combine to reduce stress and enhance outcomes for both families and their sponsoring organizations more cost-effectively than call center or concierge-only solutions. Because getting caregivers the right resources, in the right ways, right from the beginning should be business as usual. Learn more at http://www.torchlight.care, or email press@torchlight.care.

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