On Saturday's episode of Your Caregiving Journey, Bob shared his caregiving story, which includes losing a job because of his caregiving responsibilities for his wife.

On Friday, during our video chat, Patti Shea, who cares for her parents, shared the story of a friend terrified to disclose her caregiving responsibilities to her employer for fear of being fired.

Trying to keep a job and keep caregiving affects your today and your tomorrows. Americans who provide care for their aging parents lose an estimated three trillion dollars in wages, pension and Social Security benefits when they take time off to do so, according to “The MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers: Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents.” You are needed today and yet you need to prepare for your own future. It's a tough spot to be in--because you're trying to be in two spots at the same time.

So, I'd love to know: Has caregiving cost you your job? Please vote in our poll, below, and share your experiences in our comments section.




Resources

• We've got blog posts, podcasts and video chats to help working family caregivers.


• Download our free eBook, The Working Family Caregiver