Theme 1: Joys and challenges
Caregiving — providing extra help to family members or friends with health conditions or disabilities — is a nearly universal experience. It often stretches our traditional roles: A partner becomes a healthcare coordinator, a neighbor a chauffeur, a parent an advocate and a grown child a personal care assistant. Many people around us are caregivers, even if they don’t use the label for themselves.
More than one in five Wisconsinites provides care to a friend or family member with a health condition or disability.
Caregiving cuts across
all demographics — young and old, rural and urban, all genders, races and income levels.
In caring for others,
we also manage our own well-being, family logistics and sense of balance.
It can be hard and beautiful at the same time, punctuated by both deep despair and overwhelming gratitude.
The voices of caregivers in this exhibition shed light on interconnected moments of joy and challenge. Honoring their words puts us “in care of” caregivers.
Showing up, September 2024
“I had a difficult relationship with my alcoholic father and it worsened with his dementia. But I was the only one to show up for him. Now at the end of his life we say ‘I love you’ and mean it.”
Mixed emotions, January 2025
“Gratitude for happy times spent with loved one. Fears/anxiety of fights and all that’s involved in end of life. Selfish for worrying about myself after loved one gone and where to go with no job experiences or income. Joy of the positive memories.”
Seeking support
Some caregivers provide minimal support, while others devote many hours each week. In Wisconsin, the average is 26 hours — often unpaid — on top of work, school or family duties. This care is invaluable, making support a social and political necessity.
Many communities host events where caregivers connect, recharge and feel less alone. These gatherings may include speakers, resource fairs and small comforts like massages or gift bags to help caregivers feel seen and supported.
Not alone, October 2024
“Realizing I’m not alone — This was a day full of ideas. The support is amazing. Relaxing is a must as a caregiver.”
Research and (in)visibility
As of March 2025, PubMed (a research database maintained by the National Library of Medicine) listed more than 56,000 articles on caregiving, dating as far back as the 1970s. This research highlights many critical issues, including the impact of care roles on stress, health, psychological growth and even mortality. It also explores the complex relationship between the well-being of caregivers and care recipients, the importance of social support and education, and the foundational role caregivers play in healthcare and social care systems.
Despite all of this research, caregiving remains largely invisible. Collective care — when we all come together to support each other — is healthy, connecting and empowering. Sharing our care stories with one another brings caregiving into the light, allowing us all to be “in care of” each other.
Caregiving & COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, placing caregivers in unexpected and stressful circumstances. Even in the best of times, caregiving requires balance — during the pandemic, that balance became harder to maintain. Fear of the virus, service shutdowns and hospital restrictions cut off outside help, leaving primary caregivers with more work, less support and limited assistance with appointments and coordination.
Still, some caregivers found silver linings: a slower pace, more time with loved ones and a strong sense of community. These lessons can guide us through future crises, highlighting the value of backup plans, family-centered response strategies and everyday acts of kindness.
Employed caregivers
More than 75% of family caregivers also work full- or part-time. Juggling both roles is challenging — more than eight in 10 employed caregivers report work disruptions like schedule changes, leaving early or difficulty focusing. These demands can lead to missed promotions, reduced hours or leaving the workforce entirely.
As the number of adults needing care rises, employers must find ways to support them while maintaining performance. Understanding these challenges can help companies boost retention, productivity and job satisfaction.
Circle of support, February 2025
“Our mom is 83 and living independently next door to my sister. Mom is full of life and a bright spot on the days I get to see her. I am so glad there are three of us sisters to split up the many duties that are needed to keep her strong. We each took on a special role (daily care, medical, financial) but we have to communicate a lot to make this work.”
Student caregivers
An estimated 5 million adults in the U.S. are both caregivers and full- or part-time students. Though often overlooked, student caregivers face unique stressors that can impact academic performance and financial stability. Still, around four in 10 keep their caregiving role to themselves.
Support from instructors, advisors and peers can make a meaningful difference. When students identify as caregivers and communicate their needs, they have the opportunity to access flexibility, support and resources that can help them succeed in their studies and beyond.
Doing it together
Caregiving can include a wide range of tasks, from household duties like laundry or meal preparation to personal care tasks like bathing or dressing. It can also involve emotional support, managing medical needs, advocacy, coordination and handling legal or financial matters.
Often, a network of caregivers — family, friends, neighbors, community members and paid care workers — share these responsibilities. Thoughtfully dividing tasks can help families manage care more effectively. Social support is essential. Caregiving can be isolating, but a strong support network can ease the burden. Caregivers sometimes forget how much support they have around them and the importance of asking for help. Tools like the Atlas CareMap can help caregivers recognize the care they give, the care they receive and potential sources for support. Connecting with others through support groups and communities, whether online or in person, can transform caregivers’ sense of capacity, connectedness and empowerment.
Lifting others up, April 2025
“Being a caregiver means giving others hope, comfort, and joy through their struggles. My compassion over flows with smiles. Caregivers rock.”
Positive experiences
Even when it’s hard, caregiving often comes with positive experiences. For some, it deepens their bond with the care recipient. For others, it brings meaning to a difficult stage of life. Caregivers gain skills, confidence and pride in the quality of care they provide. Many become advocates, using their experience to support others. The challenges of caregiving can lead to greater strength, compassion and resilience. Helping caregivers turn experience into strength is a shared challenge we can take on together, as a community.
In 2022, the first National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was delivered to Congress. It outlines nearly 500 actions across government and the private sector to build a system that supports caregivers’ health, well-being and financial stability. Wisconsin has taken a leading role, receiving funding in 2024 to launch statewide efforts aligned with the strategy.
In Care Of: Postcard-Sized Portrayals of Caregiving in Wisconsin aims to validate these heartfelt reflections and experiences while sparking conversation around caregiving — an essential yet often invisible role. The exhibition highlights how complex emotions are deeply woven into caregiving, shaping people in transformative ways.
Special thank you to our community partners:
- Ashley Berghoff
- Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance
- UW–Madison Division of Extension
- Anonymous Fund
- Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment
The exhibition is a collaboration between caregiving expert Kristin Litzelman, family caregiver Kristin Voss and the Nancy M. Bruce Center for Design and Material Culture at the UW–Madison School of Human Ecology. Litzelman, an associate professor in the Human Development & Family Studies department at the School of Human Ecology, conducts research focused on the relationships between caregivers and care recipients, caregiver access to both formal and informal support, and caregivers’ experiences more generally. Voss is the founder of the Center for Caregiver Serenity, a Madison-area nonprofit inspired by Voss’ own experiences that seeks to support family caregivers and educate society about family caregiving.