There is nothing informal about caregiving

Words matter. The language we use to describe the human experience is essential to understanding individuals' lived experiences and how we can best care for their well-being. Take the words formal and informal, for example. The word formal suggests official, proper, qualified, while informal suggests casual, unofficial, easy. Imagine then describing a group of individuals as unofficial, that is, as an unofficial person involved in the daily intense work of taking care of a loved one with a chronic or life-limiting illness. Then imagine trying to course correct a linguistic norm. This is the tipping point that I, as a caregiving scientist, am now trying to influence.