Why Great Autism Caregivers Leave (And How to Keep Them)

Finding a great caregiver for a child with profound autism is incredibly difficult, but keeping them may be the real challenge.In this episode of Autism Labs, Mike Carr shares a practical, experience-driven framework to help families build sustainable, long-term support teams.Drawing from decades of real-life caregiving, Mike explains why caregiver turnover happens and how parents can change the environment around the role to improve retention, reduce burnout and create meaningful, lasting relationships.This episode focuses on the core pillars of caregiver retention: respect, predictability and fair pay, along with actionable strategies families can implement immediately.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why caregivers leave (and how to prevent it)• How to create a simple, effective daily structure• What to include in a behavior “playbook”• Ways to reduce burnout and build confidence• Why supporting caregiver goals leads to better retention• How to celebrate progress in meaningful ways• The importance of feedback and communication• Practical ways to improve consistency and compensationThis conversation is essential for parents of autistic children, teens and adults, as well as caregivers and professionals working in autism services.Because the goal isn’t just finding help, it’s building a team that lasts.