Across the United States, a quiet revolution of compassion is taking place in living rooms, kitchens, and communities, with more than 53 million Americans serving as caregivers. And the face of family and professional care is changing, bringing both challenges and unexpected joy. A recent national survey by Comfort Keepers a company that operates more than 600 offices nationwide of caregivers who deliver uplifting support to seniors, found that 74% of caregivers say the experience has become one of the most rewarding chapters of their life...Too often, caregiving is framed as only a burden but in the recent study it was found that nearly all caregivers (91%) say it gives them the chance to bond more deeply with the senior in their care and brings them emotional rewards and personal growth. That's why we Comfort Keepers created The National Day of Joy, held annually in June to shift the narrative, celebrating caregiving not just as a responsibility, but as a privilege. Our caregivers bring light and laughter into the lives of seniors every day, and that joy is worth honoring. This year's National Day of Joy coincides with Comfort Keepers' partnership with PBS and their upcoming Caregiving documentary which shares the untold stories of caregiving and the joy it brings. The goal of the documentary is to amplify these voices, to show the emotional landscape of caregiving in America. It's not just about stress or sacrifice, it's about love, resilience, and yes, joy. Comfort Keepers, says it's not just about managing the challenges that come with aging, it's about embracing the possibilities and celebrating the positive changes that come with each passing day. The survey also found that caregiving often starts unexpectedly. Nearly half (43% of caregivers never expected to find themselves filling the role of a caregiver for a senior), highlighting how unexpected and life-changing the caregiving journey can be. This underscores the importance of raising awareness and preparing individuals for a responsibility that often arrives without warning. One of the biggest gaps we see in families today is a lack of preparation when it comes to senior care. In fact, only about a third of Americans say their aging parents have a plan in place. Too often, those important conversations only happen after a health crisis, when stress is high and options feel limited. But aging doesn't have to be reactive, it can be joyful, even empowering, when we plan ahead. Many Americans see caregiving in their future, with 73% of them expecting to care for a loved one someday, signaling a growing awareness of the responsibilities ahead. To learn more about Comfort Keepers and how you can help support a senior loved one's caregiving journey and about The National Day of Joy which will be celebrated in more than 100 locations across the country visit comfortkeepers.com .
00:00Across the United States, a quiet revolution of compassion is taking place in living rooms, kitchens and communities with more than 53 million Americans serving as caregivers. A recent national survey by Comfort Keepers, a company that operates more than 600 offices nationwide of caregivers who deliver uplifting support to seniors, found that 74% of caregivers say the experience has become one of the most rewarding chapters of their life.
00:2791% of caregivers say that caregiving is emotionally rewarding. It actually helps them bond more deeply with the seniors in their care. And I feel the same. I'm actually the adult daughter of a nine-year-old father, but they live across the country. So I'm really lucky that my dad has a Comfort Keepers caregiver to help him do what he needs to do every single day. And it brings me peace of mind.
00:52Comfort Keepers created the National Day of Joy to help celebrate possibility and positivity, especially with caregiving. Our Comfort Keepers caregivers, they're actually in the business of caring for others because they have a mission to take care of those older adults. And it brings them joy to do that.
01:12It's just very rewarding and it gives you a purpose in life, you know, just knowing that you've helped someone. I'm very humbled by the opportunity that I get to take care of people.
01:23This year's National Day of Joy coincides with Comfort Keepers' partnership with PBS and their upcoming caregiving documentary, which shares the untold stories of caregiving and the joy it brings.
01:35What inspired PBS to produce the caregiving documentary was a desire to shine a light on the human side of caregiving, the resilience, the love, the quiet strength. It's not just about sacrifice. It's about joy, connection, and community.
01:52Comfort Keepers says it's not just about managing the challenges that come with aging. It's about embracing the possibilities and celebrating the positive changes that come with each passing day.
02:02Caregiving really is a constant in our lives. It's not an if it's going to happen. It's really more of a when.
02:08And that's because we might be caring for a sibling. We might be caring for a child with special needs. We might be caring for a spouse. We might be caring for older parents or grandparents.
02:17So caregiving really becomes a constant and something we do need to plan for as families.
02:21If you can plan ahead and have those care plans in place and those conversations early, then you get all the problem solving out of the way.
02:29And now you can start to focus on more of those positive aspects of caregiving. We call it the silver linings.
02:36And that's where you can create these experiences of joy and happiness that really uplift both your older loved one, but also yourself as a family caregiver.
02:44To learn more about Comfort Keepers and how you can help support a senior loved one's caregiving journey, and to learn more about the National Day of Joy, which will be celebrated in more than 100 locations across the country, to help local communities inspire joy, visit ComfortKeepers.com.
