The High Price of Silence

Here’s what nobody tells you: supporting an aging parent is expensive. And I don’t just mean in dollars, although let’s be clear, family caregivers provide $600 billion worth of unpaid care every year. Wrap your head around that. Six hundred billion, with a B.

But the real price tag shows up in silence. In the arguments that never happen, the words no one says out loud, the feelings everyone avoids because “we don’t talk about that in this family.” That silence costs more than money - it costs relationships.

This is why the word “partner” matters. A partner talks. A partner doesn’t just show up with tasks and lists; a partner leans in, even when it’s uncomfortable. Shifting from “giver” to “partner” reframes the whole deal. It moves the dynamic from one-directional charity to two-way connection. And when that happens, families don’t just endure the strain they find a way through it together.

Care partners don’t solve everything. But they do one thing better than caregivers: they stay connected. And that connection is the currency that really matters.

Looking for more support while navigating the squeeze? Grab a copy of our book Thriving in Chaos: Navigating the Challenges of Aging Parents on Amazon. You can find us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @peopleinthesqueeze.