Recognizing the caregiver between generations

What we found in the research

A brief research report by Owsiany and colleagues (opens in a new tab), first published online June 13, 2023, compared reported burnout across caregiving groups. Its abstract reports higher informal caregiving burnout among people caring for parents, including those also caring for children, than among people caring only for children.

“Compared to non-caregivers, all caregivers reported significantly higher levels of personal burnout.”

— Owsiany, Fenstermacher and Edelstein, 2023

This comparison describes the study participants. It does not diagnose an individual, establish that caregiving caused burnout or prove that a particular support tool prevents it. The full article requires access; our account is limited to the published abstract.

Why this matters to us

Someone may be organizing a parent’s appointment while thinking about school pickup and the work they still need to finish. Each responsibility can look manageable when viewed separately. The collisions between them are harder to see.

At genus, we think support should recognize the whole day. Asking whether one errand is small enough to manage misses the question of what else must move to make it happen.

There may also be joy, closeness and purpose in these relationships. Making room to describe pressure does not require a caregiver to dismiss what they value about family life.

Look at the crowded hour

Our suggestion is to choose one recurring point in the week when responsibilities compete. Avoid trying to solve the whole household at once.

Ask the caregiver to describe the sequence around that hour. What needs to happen before, during and afterward? Which commitment has a fixed time? Where are travel, phone calls or waiting hidden?

Then consider together:

• Could someone else own one part of the sequence?
• Can an arrangement move without creating a different problem?
• What does the person receiving support prefer?
• What is genuinely unavailable, even if it would be helpful?

A relative who cannot offer daytime transport might handle a separate agreed task. A friend may be able to help with one predictable pickup. The point is to reduce a collision, not to declare that a better calendar will resolve every pressure.

If the gap needs paid support or a service, naming that gap is useful. It should not automatically become another responsibility for the already stretched caregiver.

The genus connection

Today, the genusConnect Care App (opens in a new tab) supports enabled events, tasks and conversations for invited community members. Features and access depend on the organization’s configuration.

Those tools can make an agreed division of responsibilities easier to find and update. They cannot create additional time, childcare or service capacity. Our connection to this research is the need to see the person behind the caregiving role and organize support around their real circumstances.

One question to take away

Which recurring hour would become more manageable if one responsibility moved to someone else?