Care Squad
framework · Ai-jen Poo, The Age of Dignity ()
A care squad is a deliberate support network of family, friends, and community members who share the responsibilities of caregiving, enabling individuals to avoid burnout and sustain their care work.
Core Concepts
The Problem
Caregiving is often shouldered alone, leading to exhaustion, resentment, and compromised well-being for the caregiver.
The Claim
By organizing a care squad, the burdens of care are distributed, making caregiving sustainable and allowing the caregiver to maintain their own identity and health.
Key Evidence
- •Ai-jen Poo's advocacy and personal experience organizing domestic workers and caregivers.
Practical Implication
If widely adopted, care squads could reduce caregiver burnout, improve family dynamics, and shift cultural norms away from solitary caregiving.
Nuance & Limits
Building a care squad requires vulnerability, coordination, and sometimes confronting cultural taboos about asking for help. It is not a one-time fix but an ongoing practice.
Source Material
Citation Density
emerging
Gaps
- ⚠ More empirical research on effectiveness of care squads in reducing burnout.
- ⚠ Need for cross-cultural examples of collective caregiving models.
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