Employers Expand Benefits to Support Caregivers

Companies are increasingly offering specialized caregiving support and flexible benefits to help employees manage family needs.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Eldercare

Bold vector editorial illustration of two interlocking wooden blocks on a desk, representing workplace support and caregiving balance. — Employers in the United States are increasingly integrating specialized caregiving support and flexible benefit options into their workplace compensation packages. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should employers expand employee benefits to provide support for personal caregiving and family health needs?

Employers are shifting their benefits strategies to include more direct support for caregivers, ranging from assistance programs to lifestyle savings accounts. This trend reflects an evolving workplace focus on family health and mental well-being.

Why it matters

While rising medical costs have constrained some well-being budgets, younger workers are demanding more benefits centered on family health. Employers are responding by implementing resources to help staff navigate their personal caregiving responsibilities.

A report on company backup care programs indicates that 50% of employees using the benefit apply it specifically to pet care. Higher wage earners currently utilize these employer-provided backup care programs more frequently than lower wage earners.

The players

Voya Financial

This retirement and investment firm offers one-on-one counseling sessions with care advocates to support client employees.

Employee Benefit Research Institute

This nonpartisan organization focuses on providing data and research regarding health and retirement programs to influence policy.

CareScout

This organization specializes in assisting families with long-term care planning and financial wellness solutions.

The details

Companies are now providing resources like one-on-one counseling with dedicated care advocates to assist staff navigating their personal caregiving journeys. These initiatives often leverage lifestyle savings accounts to offer employees more flexibility in how they address their household needs.

Caregiving was largely absent from the benefits conversation 20 years ago.
Employers have increased support for mental and family health over the past decade.
Rising medical costs have limited spending on well-being benefits during the past few years.
CareScout educated associates on financial wellness journeys within the last six months.

Culture Shift

This move toward integrating caregiving into benefits packages reflects the industry-wide influence of the Employee Benefit Research Institute's Caregiving at Work Forum. The current trajectory marks a shift away from traditional benefit models toward holistic family health.

Employees may find that their company now offers new, flexible options like lifestyle savings accounts that can be used for various family-related expenses. Workers should consult their HR departments to determine if their specific benefits package includes newly added caregiving resources.

The takeaway

Employees should regularly review their company benefits portal to identify new support services for family care that they may be eligible to use. Taking advantage of these resources can help manage household stressors and improve overall work-life balance.