On February 21, 2025, we celebrate National Caregivers Day, a special occasion dedicated to recognizing the incredible individuals who provide care and support to those in need. Forty-three percent of adults in the U.S. are serving as unpaid caregivers. Across every demographic, caregivers like those St. John’s supports with our Online Dementia Resource Center are showing up for each other and doing the best they can to take care of those people they love with dementia. They provide support in all the ways they are needed — AND building a valuable set of skills while doing so.
ARCHANGELS and The Joint Commission have joined forces to create a badge that translates the skills of caregiving into opportunities. The Care Badge can be displayed anywhere and everywhere — shared on social media, added to a resume, or listed on a job application — connecting caregivers to a movement and shouting from the rooftops that unpaid caregivers know how to get things done.
Nearly 1 in 2 people serve as unpaid caregivers in addition to their roles at work — showing up for friends, family members, and neighbors in whatever ways they can. These unpaid caregivers serve as the (often invisible) backbones of the communities in which they live.
What is the Care Badge?
It’s a visual mark of expertise of the skills it takes to deliver the kind of care unpaid caregivers provide day in and day out. It is also about the opportunity for the country to better rally around this population that serves as the invisible backbone of our nation —offering a way for us all to support those who are keeping our economy alive with their care.
Why is the Care Badge important?
Everything unpaid caregivers do for others matters. It can also feel like a lot and that effort and impact can be invisible in so many ways. The Care Badge is a way for caregivers to let others know just how much they care (because it is something to celebrate). It recognizes the value of the skills built by showing up for others and gives people a way to showcase those skills to translate them into new opportunities: Opportunity to access more support, to learn new skills, to open new doors. Opportunity to leverage those skills at work, at school, in our communities.
Why a badge?
A badge is a sign of expertise, of experience, and legitimate skills. A badge grabs your attention, making you want to know more about it. It is a way to show you have done something of value and the world should take note. Unpaid caregivers develop the skills it takes to deliver care to a loved one and those skills should be recognized in a way that both reflects their value AND opens doors to new opportunities — that is what the Care Badge is all about.
Get your badge here. Or scan the QR code below with your mobile device.
How do I use the Care Badge?
The Care Badge comes with instructions on how to use and display it proudly.
You can:
- Add it to a resume to include an unpaid caregiving role in your work history.
- Add it to a LinkedIn profile – to showcase an unpaid caregiving role and the skills it builds.
- Add it to an email signature line.
- Share it on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media channels.
- Share it with friends – friends help friends get their badge, too!
- Print it out and put it somewhere it can be seen as a reminder of how we show up for others every day.
The Care Badge is on social media as are its founding organizations. Use these handles to tag all of them.
St. John’s is excited to stand with the Care Badge Initiative to support unpaid caregivers across the nation. The Care Badge is all about recognizing the over 40% of people serving as unpaid caregivers and the valuable and transferrable skills they build as they provide care for family members, neighbors, or friends. Show your commitment to showing up for caregivers. Are you caring for someone? Want to show your support? Get your badge today and share it!
