Who cares : the hidden crisis of caregiving, and how we solve it

An intimate and deeply researched account of the experiences of unpaid caregivers, this “beautiful book” (Rob Delaney) calls for us all to put care at the center of our lives When Emily Kenway became the primary caregiver for her terminally ill mother, her life was changed forever. Although she was lonely, she was far from alone: millions of caregivers all around the world are silently suffering from poverty, isolation, and burnout. Saving their nations’ economies billions by providing nonprofessional care, these people—primarily women—remain largely ignored by politicians, in part because the demands of care itself keep them from effectively advocating for their needs. In Who Cares , Kenway brings the caregiving crisis into the light. Blending expert research with insights from her own experience, Kenway shows us that building a world that cares for its caregivers requires us to fundamentally reimagine the role of care in our society, bringing it from the margins to the center of our collective life. Powerful and deeply reported, Who Cares is an essential read for anyone who has ever cared for, or will receive care from, another person—which is to say, for everyone. "When Emily Kenway became the full-time caregiver for her terminally ill mother, her life was changed forever. While her friends outside were chasing down the successes and joys of life, for her, success was when her mother managed to drink half a fortified juice, and joy came from the dulled relief she felt on realizing they'd managed three hours' straight without a vomiting spate. Kenway found that she was far from alone: all around the world, millions of caregivers are silently suffering from poverty, loneliness and depression, overwhelmed by the strain of caring in an uncaring world. In Who Cares, Kenway opens the door on this global crisis, offering a roadmap for building a world that cares for its caregivers. A sixth of the U.S. population are non-professional carers, looking after their loved ones who are long-term unwell, elderly, or disabled. These people, predominantly women, save the U.S. economy billions a year, yet they remain unseen and unheard. Blending research from experts at the forefront of potential solutions with caregivers' harrowing stories and her own experiences caring for her dying mother, Kenway reveals the intense economic and social strain that unpaid caregivers suffer. Facing a critical lack of governmental support in the U.S. and abroad, caregivers grapple with high rates of social isolation, intense burnout, and feeling hopelessly trapped in a life they didn't choose-all while our populations are getting older. To provide a path forward, Kenway proposes a radical reimagining of how we as a society view care. She argues that we need to stop seeing care as a problem - something we want to push away and rid ourselves of - and instead re-envision it as an inherent part of human life. Exploring legislative and financial solutions, she provides a clear, radical and above all, necessary, roadmap for making caregiving an organizing principle of our society. Beautifully written and deeply researched and reported, Who Cares sheds much-needed light on the reality of a silent crisis that affects millions globally. This is a powerful and necessary read for anyone who has ever cared for, or will receive care from, another person - which is to say, for everyone"-- Provided by publisher