Honoring the caregivers who hold our communities together

Every day in our city, quiet heroes move through the world without fanfare. They lift aging parents into cars for doctor’s appointments. They juggle full-time jobs with full-time care. They manage medications, prepare meals, pay bills, soothe fears and steady trembling hands. And they do it all while carrying the emotional weight of watching someone they love change — sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once.

These are our caregivers. And their impact reaches far beyond the walls of their homes.

National research shows that more than 53 million Americans are unpaid family caregivers — an all-time high. In Black and brown communities, especially, caregiving is woven into our culture. We show up for our elders because they showed up for us. We support our parents, grandparents, aunties, neighbors and church members because that’s what community does.

But what doesn’t get talked about enough is the toll it takes.

Caregivers are more likely to face burnout, depression, and financial strain. Many reduce their hours at work or leave the workforce entirely. And still, they press on — because someone depends on them.

I’ve seen this firsthand.

This mission means so much to me because I’ve watched seniors go without the care they need and caregivers quietly shoulder responsibilities most people never see. Through this work, I’m fighting to make sure both are seen, supported and surrounded with real help and real hope.

As America ages, the demand for caregivers is skyrocketing. By 2030, every Baby Boomer will be over 65. At the same time, professional caregiving shortages are worsening, the cost of long-term care continues to climb and families are stretched thinner than ever.

This is not just a private family issue — it’s a public health issue. It’s an economic issue. It’s a community issue. And it deserves our collective attention.

In honor of National Family Caregiver Month in January, we’re partnering with the InterContinental Hotel to bless one incredible caregiver with something they rarely receive: rest.

A peaceful staycation. A night to breathe. A reminder that they deserve care, too.

If you know someone who goes above and beyond — someone who loves, sacrifices, and shows up even when it’s hard — we want to hear their story.

Nominate them by emailing their story and contact information to: info@theseasonsofcarefoundation.org.

Caregivers shouldn’t have to operate in the shadows. They deserve recognition. They deserve resources. They deserve relief.

More importantly, our elders deserve dignity — and dignity grows when caregivers are supported.

My hope is that, as a community, we begin creating systems of care that honor both the people who need support and those who provide it. We can’t continue to rely on silent, unpaid labor to hold up a rapidly aging population. We need workplaces that understand caregiving. We need health care systems that value it. And we need neighborhoods that rally around the families who carry this invisible load.

Caregivers are holding up generations. It’s time we hold them up, too.

Erica Nowlen-Rogers is the founder of The Seasons of Care Foundation, where she advocates for seniors and the caregivers who support them. Her work centers on dignity, community, and expanding access to compassionate care.

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ERICA NOWLEN-ROGERS

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