When small favors become full-time care: spotting caregiver creep
Caregiver creep is the gradual escalation of simple help for aging relatives into full-time caregiving. The piece cites 63 million Americans as caregivers (with 94% caring for an adult) and notes that most unpaid caregivers are women, highlighting the sandwich-generation pressure. It explains how declines in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) signal increasing needs, and urges early conversations, planning, and professional support to avoid burnout. Practical steps include involving social workers, exploring in-home care or senior living options, and seeking caregiver resources—while acknowledging the financial and emotional toll on caregivers and the importance of community and planning to mitigate the crisis.