Caring for those who care.
The overwhelming majority of seniors want to live in their homes as long as possible — but independence often requires the support of unpaid family caregivers: spouses, children, siblings, neighbors and other loved ones. In fact, 78 percent of older adults living at home and in need of care depend on family and friends as their only source of support.
In 2015, in partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania launched a community-wide effort, United for Caregivers, dedicated to:
- Raising the visibility of caregiving as a critical issue that affects everyone
- Connecting college students with older adults to give their caregivers a break
- Providing education and resources to employers to support caregivers in the workplace
- Developing solutions for caregiver burnout and the looming shortage of family caregivers
- Supporting caregivers in the workplace with resources, strategies and direct support
- Equipping PA 2-1-1 Southwest with the expertise to connect caregivers with resources
- Advocating for public policies that recognize the value of caregiving and provide relief to caregivers