Directed to the ten million twentysomethings and thirtysomethings in the U.S. who help care for aging or disabled family members, the website The Clueless Caregiver launched today. The site offers tips, hacks, links and inspiration to those new to aiding a parent, grandparent or sibling struggling with the tasks of daily living.
Of the 40 million family caregivers in the U.S., one in four is a Millennial, according to a study by The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Public Policy Institute. More than half of young caregivers identify as African American, Asian American or Hispanic. The study defined Millennials as those between the ages of 18 and 34.
As well, approximately forty percent of family caregivers are men.
Presented in an easy-to-read format, The Clueless Caregiver appeals to a tech-savvy generation via curated links to expert advice and how-to videos. In the “Know-Nothing’s Quick-Start Guide to Caregiving,” visitors can locate advice on creating a family care plan and finding help near home by zip code. “Real-Life Advice and Resources” asks if a family member can get paid as a caregiver, offers heart-healthy recipes for clueless cooks, and links to videos demonstrating safe techniques for lifting and transferring, among other topics.
A “Focus on You” segment considers caregiver stress, and ways to help ease caregiver burden.
The Clueless Caregiver is an ad-free, product endorsement-free public service site created by Kathleen Lenane, formerly a staff editor of SELF and contributor to numerous magazines on health topics. Her experience in caring for her own family inspired the site. During 2015-2016, Kat helped care for two aging parents and a cousin with advanced lung cancer. “Those years thrust me into a new world of coping with family mobility limitations and dietary restrictions, prescription med regimens and experimental therapies,” she says. “There was a lot to learn and much to coordinate—fast.”
In addition to how-to guidance, The Clueless Caregiver hopes to bring smiles to faces with the blog Familyville, episodes drawn from Kat’s personal experience of trying to keep her adamantly independent, sometimes bedeviling and often hilarious aging parents in their beloved home. “Studies of caregiver resilience show that finding humor during hard times really does help protect against burnout,” she says. “Just weeks before my mother passed, I overheard her talking with my cousin Debbie, who also had a terminal diagnosis. I can’t remember what was said, but I do remember their laughter. It was an unexpected and moving testament to finding joy.”
