The hidden backbone of family care
Family caregiving across North Dakota often happens quietly, but its impact is anything but small.
In this episode of The Backstory, Michael Standaert discusses his reporting on family caregivers and the enormous role they play in helping loved ones remain at home.
Listen here:
The conversation centers on new data that puts a dollar value on work that many families simply consider part of daily life, even as it consumes time, energy, and emotional reserves.
“They estimated it's about $1.27 billion annually, the amount of work that family caregivers put in in North Dakota… It's a tremendous amount of work and stress… It's often hard to see, and it's not often thought of as work.” – Michael Standaert, NDNC
The episode also explores how caregiving responsibilities extend far beyond basic daily tasks. Caregivers may help manage finances, attend medical appointments, and navigate complex healthcare systems, often taking notes and researching conditions so their loved ones can better understand what doctors are saying.
Michael also discusses the need for stronger community awareness and support systems, noting that caregivers can easily find their time fully consumed by responsibilities.
Resources for Families
Phone: 855-465-5465 or 866-614-6005
Phone:
800-634-5263 (Under age 60)
866-621-9886 (Age 60+)
The Backstory is produced by the North Dakota News Cooperative, a nonprofit newsroom providing in-depth reporting to newspapers across the state. If you value this kind of journalism, consider making a donation to support our work.
The North Dakota News Cooperative is a nonprofit news organization providing reliable and independent reporting on issues and events that impact the lives of North Dakotans. The organization increases the public’s access to quality journalism and advances news literacy across the state. For more information about NDNC or to make a charitable contribution, please visit newscoopnd.org. Send comments, suggestions or tips to michael@newscoopnd.org. Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NDNewsCoop.
