According to research sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), in 2020 almost one in five American adults were providing unpaid care for health or functional needs for other adults. Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, the most recent version of the quinquennially-updated survey, reports that 23% of the 53 million self-identified caregivers also say caregiving has worsened their own health. Earlier this month, Walmart and BetterUp, a San Francisco-based human transformation company, announced a subscription-based support program for caregivers.
Subscribers access and sign up for BetterUp for Caregivers through The Wellness Hub on Walmart website. After new members pay the first $125 per month subscription fee, the first step is an assessment to identify the areas for custom support. The overall goal is to strengthen the caregivers’ mental fitness in order to “unlock personal and professional potential.” Specific aims can include improving resilience, adaptability, and effectiveness. The individual plan is updated each month. The support program includes live group coaching with up to 10 caregivers and a certified coach, live online classes, interactive exercises, self well-being tracking, guidance from certified coaches, community support, and confidential access to resource materials while the subscription is in force.
As the U.S. population ages, the demand for caregivers is rising. However, the number of available caregivers is decreasing and only going to get worse. Many caregivers have little or no support for their responsibilities that can become overwhelming. The BetterUP for Caregivers program sounds as though it could help caregivers deal with the stress and anxiety that goes along with caring for others with health problems, although the $125 monthly subscription fee will likely put it out of reach for many caregivers who could benefit from the services.
