The University of Southern California’s Center for Advancing Family Caregiver Financial and Workplace Security has launched a new podcast series, The Care Economy, which explores one of today’s most pressing and often overlooked economic issues: unpaid family caregiving.
“Caregiving financial strain can move a family from prosperity into poverty,” said Donna Benton, Associate Research Professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the center’s principal investigator. “When we support the financial well-being of family caregivers, we are supporting younger generations’ health and welfare.”
More than one in five U.S. adults provides care for a family member, creating financial strain, workplace disruption, and long-term economic consequences for families and employers alike. Funded by an Administration for Community Living grant, the podcast features solutions-oriented conversations with leaders in policy, finance, workplace benefits, law, and aging services, examining how systems can better protect caregivers’ financial stability while strengthening workforce participation and community resilience.
Produced and hosted by Maureen Feldman — a former family caregiver and longtime leader in aging and social connection initiatives — the series bridges expert analysis with lived experience to deliver practical, actionable insights for family caregivers and the professionals who support them, including Area Agencies on Aging, healthcare providers, employers, and policymakers.
“When you listen to and engage with our podcast, we hope you will begin to look at how public and private support systems can be designed to build a secure financial foundation for family caregivers,” Benton said.
The Care Economy is available on major podcast platforms. To listen and learn more, visit gero.usc.edu/centers/cg-security/podcast.
