Balancing Work and Caregiving: A Conversation with Dr. Donna Benton

Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees

Caregiving doesn’t just happen at home—it happens at work, too. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Donna Benton, the Director of the Family Caregiver Support Center at the University of Southern California, to discuss the often-overlooked challenges faced by working caregivers. With over 28 years of experience, Dr. Benton shares invaluable insights on how workplaces can better support employees who are juggling their careers and caregiving responsibilities.

Episode Highlights:

[1:23] – Welcome to the show! Meet Selma, Zack, and our guest, Dr. Donna Benton.

[2:30] – Dr. Benton shares about her roots in Los Angeles and the diversity of her neighborhood.

[4:24] – The personal journey that led Dr. Benton into caregiver advocacy and research.

[6:57] – How universities like USC are leading the charge in caregiver education and support.

[9:53] – What does a Family Caregiver Resource Center actually do? Dr. Benton explains her day-to-day work.

[13:07] – How employees can access caregiver resources—even if their workplace isn’t offering support.

[15:43] – Can employers nationwide bring in educational workshops for caregivers? (Hint: Yes, and Dr. Benton tells you how!)

[19:36] – Why advocating for the Older Americans Act and work-life balance policies is crucial for working caregivers.

[22:07] – The biggest challenges employers will face in 2025 when it comes to supporting caregivers.

[27:07] – The myth of “vacation time” for caregivers—why we need better workplace policies.

[28:36] – The #1 thing caregivers wish they had known earlier (and what you need to do now).

[31:22] – Our challenge to HR leaders—who will be the first to take action?

Links & Resources:

· Dr. Donna Benton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-benton-74463118/

· USC Family Caregiver Support Center: https://losangelescrc.usc.edu/

· Jason Resendez and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC): https://www.caregiving.org/

· Caregiver Nation Summit by NAC: https://www.caregivernationsummit.org/

· Rosalynn Carter Quote for Caregivers

· Liz O'Donnell and Working Daughter website and Facebook: https://workingdaughter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/workingdaughter/

· Liz O'Donnell and Working Daughter PRIVATE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/workingdaughter

Zack challenges their listeners as to who will be the first HR leader to reach out to Dr. Benton and inquire about an educational program for their organization.

Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com