Care Chains

Care chains refer to the interconnected flow of caregiving responsibilities across individuals and generations. When one person provides care—for example, a parent caring for a child—the burden often shifts to others, such as adult children caring for aging parents or professionals assisting patients. These chains highlight how caregiving duties extend beyond immediate relationships, impacting work, health, and financial stability across society. Recognizing care chains helps understand the broader social and economic effects of caregiving, emphasizing the importance of support systems and policies to address these interconnected responsibilities effectively.