According to AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, 1 in every 4 adults in America is a caregiver and of these, 94 percent care for adults. Additionally, 29 percent are caregivers in what is called the “sandwich generation,” providing care for both aging adults and children, and 7 in 10 family caregivers are employed.

This means that caregiver leave is more of a necessity than ever before. In the absence of paid family leave, many of these working caregivers might have needed to take unpaid time away from work to bring their loved ones to doctor’s appointments or assist them with the activities of daily living, or possibly even leave the workforce completely to provide the necessary care

Caregiver leave is one of the top three reasons workers apply for CT Paid Leave benefits, with many requesting intermittent leave. Intermittent leave is leave taken in shorter periods of time for a single leave reason. The length of time may be for a full day, but it may also be taken in hours or even portions of an hour. This is extremely important in the case of providing transportation and accompanying loved ones to their healthcare appointments, particularly in the case of chronic conditions in which the patient sees their healthcare provider periodically, such as diabetes or heart conditions. Perhaps the family member is undergoing chemotherapy and needs to be brought to their treatments, or to receive care immediately after the treatments. Intermittent leave provides flexibility for caregivers to be there for their loved ones when they need it without entirely stepping away from their job.

It is important to remember that while many individuals are caring for aging parents, Connecticut Paid Leave also recognizes relationship by affinity. Relationship by affinity means that if a worker has a close association that is the equivalent of a family relationship, they can take caregiver leave to care for that person, regardless of any biological or legal relationship. This allows workers to care for extended family, neighbors, friends, and life partners. Perhaps a worker needs to care for their significant other, but they are not legally married. Since Connecticut does not recognize common law marriage, this is considered a relationship by affinity, and CT Paid Leave can provide income replacement benefits or the worker to care for this individual.

When thinking about caregiver leave, it is important to discuss with your family member’s healthcare provider the kind of support they’ll need, which will dictate the type of leave for which you apply -  continuous, intermittent, or reduced schedule. The healthcare provider will need to complete a Certification for a Serious Healthcare Condition form to provide details about the family member’s condition, and they’ll also need to provide details of the type of care or assistance that the patient will need from the caregiver.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter famously stated: “There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” No matter which category you fall into (or may in the future), CT Paid Leave is here to provide support.

Jessica Vargas, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at CT Paid Leave, wrote this article.