Former Paving Executive Timothy Lubniewski Highlights Hidden Toll on Family Caregivers

Timothy Lubniewski, a business leader and former General Manager at Rose Paving, is drawing attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by family caregivers. After stepping away from his executive role to become the primary caregiver for his wife, KC, who is living with ALS, Lubniewski is sharing his firsthand experience to spark a broader conversation about the support caregivers need.

Lubniewski's transition from managing businesses and teams to managing a household and caring for his wife and their two young sons, ages six and five, has been profound. "With our boys and everything that comes with caregiving, there are a few times every month when I realize I am completely burned out," Lubniewski said. "At that point, I am not looking for a vacation. Sometimes I am just searching for a few hours of quiet so I can reset and come back ready to handle what needs to be done."

The numbers behind family caregiving are staggering. According to AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, tens of millions of Americans provide unpaid care to relatives and friends, handling tasks from transportation and personal care to medical coordination and emotional support. Yet, as Lubniewski points out, those statistics don't capture the cumulative effect of being responsible for another person's needs while maintaining the rest of family life. "There isn't really a point where you say the workday is over," he said. "You are a husband, a caregiver and a father at the same time. My boys are still very young, and they need their dad. KC needs me. You are constantly thinking about what somebody needs next."

Lubniewski's experience has forced him to reconsider the relentless work ethic that defined his business career. "I have always been someone who believed there was an answer and that giving up was almost never an option," he said. "I still believe in persistence. What I am learning now is that taking a few hours for yourself is not giving up. Sometimes that is what allows you to keep going." He encourages caregivers to recognize warning signs of burnout and to accept help when offered. For friends and family, he suggests offering specific assistance—such as handling an errand, preparing a meal, or taking over a school pickup—rather than a general offer to help.

For Lubniewski, the lessons extend beyond the home. He has long identified with servant leadership, a philosophy he practiced during his years building and managing paving businesses. Caregiving has given that philosophy new meaning. "There are no job titles or performance reviews at home," he said. "There is simply responsibility toward people who depend on you."

He hopes greater awareness will encourage families, employers, healthcare professionals, and communities to ask caregivers a simple question more often: What support do you need? And he believes caregivers need permission to answer truthfully. "My family is my priority right now," Lubniewski said. "I would make that decision again. But loving someone does not mean you never get tired. I think we need to acknowledge both things. You can be completely committed to caring for somebody and still need somebody to care about how you are doing, too."

Lubniewski's call for recognition is not about portraying caregivers as victims, but about ensuring they are supported enough to continue their essential work. His story underscores the hidden toll on family caregivers and the need for a societal shift in how we view and assist them.