We Are the Largest Health Care Company in the World
There’s more than 50 million of us.
A colleague on Linkedin shared an article from a ventral capital firm’s website. In the article, The Biggest Company in the World, the authors write:
“We think the biggest company in the world will be a consumer health tech company.”
The authors continue:
“Our bet is the future’s biggest company, the consumer health giant, won’t be one of today’s big tech or incumbent healthcare companies. It will be a consumer-obsessed, healthcare-native tech company that reimagines what care can look like.”
As family caregivers, aren’t we already doing that?
We’re consumers who navigate, manage and advocate within 17 Caregiving Systems, using technology, hacks and instincts to provide care. Also, we can’t go full tech because the health care system is built on paper.
Because we number more than 50 million, which means we are the largest group of health care providers, shouldn’t we consider ourselves a company?
If we are a company, then we deserve:
Pay
Benefits
Retirement packages
Paid time off
Reimbursement for training
Opportunities for promotions
Of course, this doesn’t happen for us.
I often read the terms “informal family caregivers” and “unpaid family caregivers.” What if we just call ourselves the largest company of health care providers without compensation, benefit packages or paid time off?
What do you think?
Resources
Because we’re a company, we need a Caregiving Department for support and solutions.
Be sure to join our Caregiving Listener Project, a Day of Service event on January 16.
In my state a few years back, family caregivers were eligible to be part-time employees of agencies that provided care if family member has a waiver. I am now a part-time employee with benefits who is fully trained. I clock-in and clock-out like any caregiver. Of course, my caree is only eligible for 25 hours of service per week but It helps. It also gives me a sense of purpose. I'm still on the job 24/7 every day but I am grateful for this.
YES! Denise, you nailed it again - thank you for this new framing of who we are as a movement and a company!