Caregiving.com At A Glance

Mission: Caregiving.com features the voice of family caregivers and former family caregivers through blogs, podcasts, video chats, live events and support groups. We're a community of family caregivers and former family caregivers sharing stories, support and solutions. We also share insights, information and inspirations so that family caregivers discover the meaning in their journeys.

Founded: Caregiving.com was founded in 1996 by Denise M. Brown in the corner of her bedroom in her parents' home. The first generation of the site debuted as a personal page on Prodigy (a now defunct online service) in March 2006. The success of the personal page prodded Denise to secure the domain name, Caregiving.com, on August 3, 1996.

Caregiving.com was originally an off-shoot of Caregiving! newsletter, a monthly print publication produced by Denise from January 1995 until April 2005.

Highlights: Caregiving.com introduced one of the first online support groups for family caregivers in the fall of 1996. In 2009, Caregiving.com became the first site to include a collection of blogs written by family caregivers. In 2011, Caregiving.com added a chat on Twitter (#carechat) to its stable of support groups. In March 2011, Denise launched CareGifters, an initiative which funds caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time. Through CareGifters, Denise raises money to send money to family caregivers in need.

In 2016, Denise organized and hosted the National Caregiving Conference which now takes place annually. In 2017, Denise organized and hosted Caregiving and the Workplace Summit, which now takes happens during the National Caregiving Conference.

In January 2016, Denise debuted the Certified Caregiving Consultant™ training program which helps former family caregivers launch a business to help current family caregivers. The program also helps professionals who work with family caregivers communicate effectively and offer the right resource at the right time. She developed and launched a workplace training program, The Manager's Toolbox for a Complex Workplace, in 2017. Additional training programs, including the Certified Caregiving Advocate™, Certified Caregiving Facilitator™ and Certified Caregiving Specialist™ were launched in 2018 and 2019.

Throughout the years, its mission remains the same. We want to be the destination for family caregivers and former family caregivers to:

• Read interesting and informative content;


• Learn about new services and products;


• Meet and share with other family caregivers;


• Engage in meaningful and insightful discussions about the caregiving lifestyle;


• Receive opportunities to elevate a caregiving experience into a National Caregiving Conference presentation and a small business.

We strive to make the day of a family caregiver better and life after caregiving ends an abundant one.

Visitors: Visitors to Caregiving.com care or cared for family members and friends. According to our 2017 visitor survey:

• the majority of visitors are women; 42% of visitors are between the ages of 35 and 60


• 51% of visitors care for their mother, 30% care for a spouse or partner


• 47% have been in a caregiving role for more than five years


• 74% of respondents live with their caree.

Website Traffic: Each month, Caregiving.com receives almost 20,000 visitors who generate almost 64,000 pageviews.

Media Contact: Denise M. Brown, 773-343-6341

Press coverage:

Chicago Tribune: Experts urge caregivers to ask for help and balance their own lives

Kaiser Health News: Parenting Your Parents When They Don’t Want Help

Next Avenue: How the Topic of Mobility Could Come Up This Holiday Season

Washington Post: In helping elderly parents, caregivers get a peek at their futures — and are inspired to plan for old age

Chicago Tribune: Experts urge caregivers to ask for help and balance their own lives

Time Counts Campaign from Embracing Carers: Videos

Washington Post: In helping elderly parents, caregivers get a peek at their futures — and are inspired to plan for old age

Chicago Tribune: It Can Be Isolating: How Caregivers Handle the Stress and Find Support

The Wall Street Journal: Baby Boomers Get More Selective About Friends

Cure magazine: Lining Up for Online Support

EveryDayHealth.com: Finding Strength in Caregiving

Money magazine: Help Your Parents Get Home Care

The New York Times: After the Caregiving Ends

The New York Times: Easing the Stress of Daily Care-Giving

Orlando Sentinel: The Stressed, Ill and Alone Find Solace in Online Support Groups

Philadelphia Inquirer: Caregivers Learning to Let Go at the End

Philadelphia Inquirer: Detailing the Caregiver's Journey

Reader's Digest: Senior Care: A Crash Course on What's Important

Reuters: Two-Fifths of U.S. Adults Care for Sick, Elderly Relatives

Smartmoney.com: Help for small business owners in a caregiving role

Time magazine: Who Cares for Mom?

US News and World Report: Managing Life as a Caregiver

USA Today: Treat Your Children, Parents Well

Wall Street Journal: Training to be a Family Caregiver

Resources:

The Family Caregiver's Stress

Fifth Annual Working Family Caregiver Survey

Annual Family Caregiver Survey Results