Care Stories — Sandwich Generation
Balancing a New Baby and a Family Health Crisis
As Kayla prepared to return to work, she faced the dual pressure of finding childcare and navigating her mother-in-law’s cancer diagnosis. Here’s how Family First stepped in to coordinate childcare, navigate complex healthcare and financial decisions, and support Kayla's well-being so she could return to work with confidence.
Employer Profile
Employee Profile
Industry: Retail
Caregiving Role: Caring for Children and an Aging Adult
HQ: Syracuse, NY
Experience Enlisted: Childcare, Backup Care, Complex Needs, Financial Wellbeing, Care Coordination
Size: 2.500
The Situation
Kayla, a 29-year-old working mother, was preparing to return to office three days a week under her employer’s new policy. As a new mom, she felt anxious about leaving her toddler in daycare for the first time. Her mother-in-law was also recently diagnosed with breast cancer, leaving Kayla worried about treatment costs and how Medicare would cover care.
"When I called Family First I felt pulled in every direction. Between my daughter, my career and then my mother-in-law, I felt like I was failing at all of it.
— Kayla M., Caring for a Newborn and Aging Adult
How We Work
From first conversation to ongoing support, our Care Experts don’t just guide. They do the work, solving care needs and staying with caregivers every step of the way.
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Engage, Listen, Understand
We start by listening. Employees are matched 1:1 with a Care Expert to understand what's really going on, not just the immediate issue.
Do the Work
Proactive planning, coordination, coaching and advocacy. We make the calls. We navigate the systems. We take what we can off caregivers' plates.
Ongoing Support & Outcomes
Support continues until goals are outcomes are achieved and stress is reduced. We stay with caregivers until the work is done.
Working with a Care Expert
A whole-person assessment that standard healthcare misses
Family First was engaged as Kayla prepared to return to the office and sought support finding childcare for her toddler. Through a comprehensive assessment, her Care Expert developed a more complete understanding of her situation. In addition to her immediate need for daycare, we uncovered deeper concerns, including anxiety about leaving her child, the emotional strain of her mother-in-law’s recent cancer diagnosis, and uncertainty around treatment costs and Medicare coverage.
This comprehensive view ensured her Care Expert could address both the presenting need and the underlying factors impacting her well-being and ability to stay focused at work.
How We Helped
One Care Expert. Six coordinated moves.
Evaluated Kayla’s childcare needs and her concerns about her mother-in-law’s cancer diagnosis
Advocated for Kayla’s well-being by referring her to her employer’s EAP for counseling and long-term anxiety support
Coordinated coordinated daycare options near both home and work, and prepared a list of personalized questions for tours
Coached Kayla on balancing new motherhood with her career while supporting her family through health crisis
Simplified financial planning by connecting her with a financial advisor to navigate Medicare and treatment costs
Provided education on self care practices tailored to new working mothers
"Having someone step in, understand the full picture, and actually take things off my plate was a massive relief.”
Measurable results — for the caregiver and the employer.
46% Caregiver Burnout Reduction
10/10 Employee Satisfaction
7 Solutions Secured
100 Hours of Productivity Regained over 4 Weeks
Zero Days of Leave Taken Throughout Our Engagement
Baby is in trusted childcare with back-up solutions in place, if needed
This is what championing caregivers looks like
See how Family First can deliver meaningful outcomes for your employees across every life stage of caregiving.