Honoring Black Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary individuals who show up every day for loved ones living with blood cancers and other serious health challenges. In Black families and communities, caregiving is more than a role. It’s love. It’s a duty. It’s cultural. And it often comes with sacrifices that go unseen.

The reality Black caregivers carry

Black caregivers often live what’s known as the “Superwoman” or “Superman” syndrome—handling everything and everyone while putting their own needs last. They coordinate cancer treatments, manage medications, attend appointments, handle finances, cook meals, keep households running, and still show up for work and family.

Challenges that are often overlooked

Black caregivers carry tremendous responsibility, yet their struggles are often invisible. Many face systemic barriers, including limited access to affordable healthcare, which directly affects their caregiving role:

• Filling the gaps in medical care: When loved ones facing blood cancer experience delayed appointments, limited treatment options, or provider shortages, caregivers step in. They coordinate appointments, manage medications, and advocate fiercely for their loved ones’ care.

• Financial strain: Black caregivers spend an estimated 34% of their income on care-related needs, compared with 26% nationally. The unpaid caregiving workforce in the U.S. contributes work valued at over $1.1 trillion annually—all while caregivers often sacrifice their own financial stability.

• Time and energy drain: Many Black caregivers provide 30+ hours of care every week, often while living in the same home. Managing cancer treatments, labs, insurance issues, transportation, and home responsibilities leaves caregivers physically and mentally depleted.

This isn’t just caregiving. It’s navigating a system full of barriers while trying to keep loved ones stable, encouraged, and cared for.

It takes a village

In Black communities, we’ve always lived by the truth that “it takes a village.” Family, faith, and community have long been the support systems that help caregivers stay strong. This month, we honor that legacy—and the people who uphold it every single day.

Where Black caregivers can find real support

HealthTree offers practical, culturally relevant tools to help lighten the load:

Community & Emotional Support

• Black Health Connect Groups – Safe spaces for caregivers and patients.

• HealthTree Coaching Program – One-on-one support from trained caregivers and survivors.

Education & Empowerment

• HealthTree University – Easy-to-understand videos about treatments, labs, and side effects.

• HealthTree News – Trusted updates about research and patient stories.

• Black Myeloma Health Website – Resources specifically designed for the Black community.

Financial & Practical Support

• HealthTree Patient Services – Assistance with co-pays, travel, grants, and insurance challenges.

• First Appointment Checklist & Clinic Visit Organizer – Tools to help caregivers stay organized.

• CureHub – Tracks labs, symptoms, and treatments while helping improve research for Black patients.

A message for every Black caregiver

You carry more than most people will ever understand.
Your dedication matters.
Your sacrifices matter.
You matter.

This National Family Caregivers Month, we honor your strength, your resilience, and the love you pour into your families. And we stand committed to making sure you have the support and resources you need. Not just this month, but every day of the year. Because when Black caregivers are supported, families thrive, communities strengthen, and the weight they carry becomes lighter.