Redefining Caregiving: Impact on Cost, Quality, and Population Health in Healthcare Systems

Welcome to another episode of The Healthcare STARcast! In this episode, host Subbu Ramalingam is joined by two incredible guests: Dr. Heidi Syropoulos, a seasoned geriatrician with a rich background in family engagement and care quality, and Shara Cohen, CEO of Carallel and a passionate advocate for family caregivers within the healthcare system.Together, they dig deep into the often misunderstood world of caregiving - a workforce of over 63 million people providing an estimated $3-600 billion in unpaid care annually. Is caregiving merely helping out, or is it the essential, yet undervalued infrastructure that keeps our healthcare system running? The conversation unpacks common misconceptions, the invisible labor and emotional toll on caregivers, and the huge opportunities - both economic and quality-of-care related - that come from better supporting this crucial group.We’ll also dive into the unique challenges of dementia caregiving, strategies for health plans and providers to identify and support caregivers, and the tangible links between caregiver support, patient outcomes, and cost savings. Whether you’re a clinician, health plan leader, or someone personally connected to caregiving, this episode offers fresh perspectives, practical insights, and a powerful call to action.Tune in for a compelling discussion shedding light on the backbone of healthcare: our caregivers.Timestamps:00:00 "Caregiving: Key to Health Improvement"05:19 "Drawn to Geriatric Caregiving"08:52 "Empowering Family Caregivers in Healthcare"13:31 "Caregiving: Undervalued and Overlooked"17:25 "Caregiving Misconceptions and Realities"21:49 Shifts in Caregiving and Healthcare25:14 "Addressing Caregiver Burden Challenges"26:30 "Rethinking Support for Caregivers"32:51 "Understanding Dementia's Behavioral Symptoms"35:00 "Dementia Caregiver Challenges & Support"37:58 Caregivers' Role in Reducing Readmissions42:34 Caregivers Prevent Hospital Readmissions44:54 Caregiver Impact on CAHPS Surveys47:58 Caregiving Tips for Early Preparation53:05 Caregiver Burden Stratification Approach56:36 "Prioritizing Caregiver Engagement ROI"57:51 "Future of Caregiving Innovation"Show Website - https://healthcarestarcast.com/Subbu Ramalingam - Show Host - Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/subburamalingam/FloWise Leadership - https://flowiseleadership.com/ViVega Business Services - https://www.vivega.co/ATTAC Consulting Group - https://www.attacconsulting.com/Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”