This story is based on a conversation with Bank of America employee Jennifer Edmondson, 43, from Anniston, Alabama. A company spokesperson said eldercare is one of its most valued benefits, and usage has increased since it was introduced over a decade ago. Edmondson’s interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m a member of the “sandwich generation,” caring for my 68-year-old mother and two children, ages 13 and 11, at the same time.
Mom was diagnosed with the chronic, progressive motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2024.
It started with relatively mild symptoms, including weakness in her legs and feet, which we thought were a recurrence of the autoimmune disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome.
She had to retire from her job as a school bus driver 10 years ago after getting sick.
The ALS prognosis was terminal with acute physical decline, and we knew Mom would need increasing amounts of help as time went by.
Lack of mobility is the main concern at the moment; she has a scooter to get around and sleeps on a recliner.
She loves her independence and still lives in her own home, about 15 miles from our town. My two brothers and sister live nearby, so one of us is always checking in on her.
Mom might eventually move in with one of us
We constantly worry that she might fall when she’s alone and moving from A to B. My siblings and I are looking for a long-term solution for her care, and she may move into one of our homes.
But, in this in-between time, when Mom is trying to do as much as she can on her own, we have a carer come to her house once a week.
I’m an advisor at Bank of America, and my benefits include 50 days of free eldercare every year.
It’s done through Bright Horizons, best known as a backup childcare provider for employees, which hired Mom’s carer, Amy, in February 2026.
Mom’s carer provides companionship
The arrangement works perfectly for us. Amy, already a close friend of the family whom we couldn’t trust more, provides companionship and support.
She usually comes for eight hours a day on Tuesdays. It’s not medical care, per se, but she sits with her and does household chores like loading the dishwasher or doing laundry.
Mom can get about more because Amy will help her to transfer to her scooter. It’s reassuring to know that someone is there in case she falls. They can get her back on her feet and call us, or, worst-case scenario, call an ambulance.
It’s an interim measure before Mom needs more help. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, we feel a huge amount of relief, both financially and emotionally.
I’m thankful for the benefits of my job
I can spend more quality time with my mom and my kids because I’m not running around so much, being pulled in different directions.
I’ve worked for Bank of America for four-and-a-half years now, and the real value of working there goes beyond a paycheck.
A lot of companies have an attitude of “leave your personal life at the door,” but they’re different.
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