By Cynthia Germain

Caregiving is certainly a labor of love, but it’s also labor, sometimes around the clock, and too often done alone. According to AARP’s Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, nearly 63 million Americans are providing unpaid care to an adult or child with health or functional needs. Here in Wisconsin, the state report shows that over 580,000 Wisconsin residents, that’s about one in five adults, are doing the same.

Caregivers in Wisconsin provide more than 510 million hours of unpaid care each year, valued at nearly $10 billion. Many juggle jobs, family, and their own health while trying to keep loved ones safe and supported at home. More than half report feeling emotionally stressed, and one in five say their own health has worsened because of caregiving. That being said, 85 percent of caregivers also say the experience gives their life deeper meaning. That spirit of compassion and endurance is exactly what defines communities like Door County, and why recognizing and supporting caregivers matters so much.

AARP is working nationally to make that recognition more tangible through new legislation. Their event, “Bridging Tax Policy & Real Life: Supporting America’s Working Family Caregivers“, highlights two important proposals:

• The Credit for Caring Act would create a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 to help family caregivers cover expenses such as home modifications, adult day programs, respite care, and transportation.
• The Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act would expand the use of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), allowing caregivers to use pre-tax dollars for their loved one’s care—even if that person isn’t their tax dependent.

These measures may sound technical, but their goal is simple: to put a bit of money back into the pockets of people who give so much of themselves. It’s a recognition that caregiving is not just a personal responsibility—it’s a public good that keeps families together and communities strong.

Recognizing the enormous contributions of caregivers, the Door County Caregiver Coalition invites you to the Caregiver Conference & Resource Fair on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Aging & Disability Resource Center in Sturgeon Bay.

This year’s theme, “Recharge Your Brain, Body & Spirit,” is an invitation to step away from the daily demands and reconnect with your own well-being.

Highlights include:

• Keynote by Casey Kapalczynski of UW–Green Bay on “Our Aging Brain: What’s Typical and When to Be Concerned?”
• Breakout sessions on mental health self-care, falls prevention, Parkinson’s fitness, and malnutrition awareness.
• Music, networking, and roundtable discussions led by local experts.

It’s a full day designed to refresh, educate, and remind caregivers that they are not alone.

From Washington D.C. to Sturgeon Bay, the message is clear: caregivers need and deserve support. The numbers in the AARP reports put it in black and white; events like the Door County Caregiver Conference put it into practice.

We encourage you to get involved in these events and initiatives, for yourself if you are a caregiver, and if you are not, to stand with thousands of others whose daily acts of love quietly sustain our community.