Yes, And. . .

Fifty years ago, Saturday Night Live had its late-night premiere on NBC. Originally known as NBC’s Saturday Night, the first episode was hosted by George Carlin and featured Billy Preston as a musical guest. Twelve-year-old me was instantly a fan. My parents, not so much. While the format of the show has been relatively stable over its 51 seasons, the cast and writers change from season to season. (Anybody else remember the Muppets’ sketches?) Fans of different eras will say, “the old ones were funnier.” Maybe. . . but it might just be that you were younger and excited about staying up late.

Saturday Night introduced its audience to fresh faces. Many of the original “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” that filled the cast came from improvisational comedy troupes, including The Improv in New York, Second City in Chicago, and the Groundlings in Los Angeles. The show exposed standup comedy and improvisational theater to a broader audience and introduced a generation of performers that had not appeared on the Tonight Show or the television “variety hours” of the era. Improv comedy found a broader audience and new practitioners of the form. Nowadays, there are performance venues, amateur and professional improv groups, school clubs, and even corporate team building programs that promote and practice this form of comedy, which relies on character and situations instead of monologues and punchlines.

Successful improvisational comedy – the absence of a script or a formal outline – relies on the performers ability to follow the principle of “yes, and….” Accepting the situation that is presented, and adding or complementing it to build the story, and the humor. Acceptance builds confidence among the performers, opens possibilities and builds energy and creates a memorable experience for the audience.

Improv often draws its humor from the incongruous or the absurd. The “yes, and…” scenarios allow for plot twists, or a surprising turn of phrase or events. But not every “yes, and…” leads to humor. There are many real-life situations where circumstances or events can take lead in an unexpected direction.

Family caregivers can often be described in terms of “yes, and. . .” Family caregivers, the people who provide uncompensated, and informal support for their loved ones, take on these responsibilities in addition to the other roles in their lives. Yes, they are caregivers, and…

Husbands, wives and children…

Parents, siblings and grandchildren…

Neighbors, partners and friends.

And…

Employers, employees and coworkers…

People with other hobbies, interests and volunteer responsibilities…

And more.

According to the 2025 Caregiving in the US study, from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 63 million Americans are family caregivers. Among them…

• Neary one-third are also caring for children at home (the “sandwich generation”)
• Seventy percent of caregivers are also employed.
• More than 40 percent perform “complex medial tasks” but only one in five has received formal skills training.
• Three quarters of caregivers live with, or nearby, the loved ones in their care.

Caregivers often find themselves in the position of “yes, and…” and must demonstrate creativity, flexibility and trust. Whether it is making transportation arrangements for a loved one to get to a medical appointment during the caregiver’s workday or finding care for a family member with memory problems when the caregiver must be away, caregivers face a variety of challenges. Caregiving can complicate the ability to work outside the home, which in turn makes it more difficult for caregivers to address their own health or financial needs.

Caregivers are creative. Look across the landscape of services for older adults and people with disabilities and you will discover that many were developed by people with caregiver stories. Support groups were established by people who discovered other families with similar issues. Treatment programs were developed by parents seeking services for children with disabilities. Websites, software and adaptive devices were invented by people looking for solutions to daily care challenges. Home health agencies (and many health careers) were started by people who found themselves thrust into the world of care and support of someone they love. All are examples of the creativity and determination of family caregivers.

One of the challenges for caregivers, and conversations about caregiving, is the fact that it is a “yes, and…” story. Many caregivers do not identify themselves as such. “I’m just being a good spouse,” or “she would have done the same for me.” The responsibilities are taken on gradually, one task or one favor at a time. Sorting the mail evolves into paying the bills. A ride to the doctor’s office leads to a conversation about care planning. Small steps taken over time. Many Americans take on these roles. And for some, the responsibilities can become overwhelming.

November is National Family Caregiver Month. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the roles of family caregivers, the importance of caregiving in our society, and a deeper conversation about the challenges caregivers face.

An estimated 63 million caregivers in the US provide more than 600 billion dollars’ worth of uncompensated care in the US each year. That’s more services and support that the amount covered by insurance, public assistance and out-of-pocket payments combined! Whether it is direct care, household chores, transportation and service coordination, family and friend caregivers are critical to health and healthcare treatment. There is overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness of care delivered in a home or community setting. People are more comfortable, and experience better health outcomes, when care is provided in familiar surroundings. Persons with a network of informal supports, including those with significant chronic health conditions, disabilities or cognitive impairment, are able to successfully age in place. And those without that support. . .cannot.

Beyond a conversation about the importance of caregiving, National Caregiver Month is also an opportunity to explore how we can better support those on the caregiving journey. How can we support caregivers and address the health, financial and personal challenges they face? What are the policies and practices that can support and encourage caregivers, and address their needs?

Benjamin Rose is committed to addressing the challenges faced by family caregivers. One of our programs, SHARE is designed to assist family members and their loved one living with dementia in planning for their future and care. Through six sessions, they can explore discussions about communication, values and preferences for care, and support for those having a “yes, and…” conversation.

Learn more about supports for family caregivers and programs in your community by visiting the Best Programs for Caregiving website.