How Cleo supports families across LATAM – Global caregiving in action

For many global companies, Latin America is a region of growing opportunity—and growing complexity. As organizations expand their footprint in LATAM, they quickly discover that benefits can’t be one-size-fits-all. What makes sense in Mexico might not in Argentina. What works in Brazil won’t necessarily translate to Colombia.

That’s why global caregiving support needs to be flexible, culturally informed, and deeply human. And that’s exactly what Cleo brings to LATAM.

With members across 13 Latin American regions,Cleo is more than a global benefit. We are part of the region we serve.

Our LATAM-based Guides understand the lived realities of working families across the continent and provide personalized support that reflects not only where our members are, but who they are.

Local Knowledge, Real Impact

Cleo members in LATAM live in a diverse set of countries and regions including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica.

While each country has its own unique systems, languages, and traditions, there are common threads we see across the region: strong multigenerational family ties, limited public caregiving infrastructure, and deep cultural expectations around caregiving—especially for women.

That’s why Cleo’s support in LATAM is led by Guides who live in the region, speak the language(s), and understand these nuances firsthand. Our Latin America team supports members in Spanish, Portuguese, and English—and through our global translation network, we’re able to offer real-time support in over 250 languages when needed.

Caring for caregivers in context

Cleo’s Guides in LATAM work with families on challenges that often differ from those in North America or Europe. For instance, sleep guidance in LATAM often includes culturally accepted practices like bedsharing—which require a very different approach than the U.S. sleep training model.

Rather than pushing one-size-fits-all advice, Cleo helps parents navigate local parenting norms, generational expectations, and multigenerational households with support that respects their values.

We hear time and again from members that what they appreciate most is feeling understood. That their Cleo Guide “gets it”—not just because they’re a trained expert, but because they come from the same world.

Among the many issues we help families navigate are:

• Safe bedsharing and culturally resonant sleep practices
• Parenting styles that are passed down through generations and how to adapt them
• Returning to work postpartum in systems with limited parental leave
• Mental health challenges in regions where stigma may prevent open conversations

The result is a support experience that feels less like a corporate benefit and more like a lifeline.

Cleo tracks how well its care works.

Upon initial screening, 38% of Cleo members in LATAM are flagged as high risk for burnout. That’s slightly above the global average, which isn’t surprising when you consider the additional caregiving burdens many families face in the region and the limited access to outside help.

In fact, the top pain points for LATAM caregivers are balance and self-care, both of which can lead to burnout. These issues aren’t limited to just caregivers either. Our Guides in this region are seeing more burnout support requests from the population at large, suggesting that it is a challenge across the region.

But the good news is: Cleo makes a measurable difference.

Cleo’s Family Health Index (FHI) shows that 2/3rds of members who screen as high risk improve their FHI score after working with Cleo.

What’s more:

• 61% of members reported an improvement in emotional wellness, highlighting the success of personalized mental health support
• 49% of members saw an increase in their sense of social connection & support, mitigating the effects of isolation
• 48% of members improved their confidence and dedicated time to essential self-care practices
• 45% of members reported a reduction in the stress and load of their caregiving responsibilities
• 42% of members saw an improvement in their general health and the collaborative support within their family unit

These results indicate more parents and caregivers are getting the tools they need to not just keep going but to actually feel better while doing it.

Why cultural concordance matters

In LATAM, the concept of familia is central—but it can also create pressure. Grandparents may live in the home. Parenting advice is abundant—and often unsolicited. Expectations are high, and support systems outside of the family are limited. For working parents trying to balance these responsibilities with their careers, it can feel overwhelming.

That’s why Cleo’s culturally concordant model works so well here.

Our Guides don’t just offer “best practices”—they listen. They ask questions. They tailor support to reflect each family’s lived experience. And because they’re based in-region, that guidance is grounded in the local context. This model helps caregivers feel seen and supported—not judged or misunderstood.

As an example, Maria M. (not the member’s real name) from Mexico was struggling with her teenager and needed solutions to address academic challenges and family dynamics with a focus on empathy-driven resilience, family communication, and disciplined boundary-setting.

Our team of Guides and Specialists got to work building a plan for Maria, including:

• 1:1 Specialist sessions focused on health, wellness, and adolescent behavior to help the member guide her son through academic and personal transitions
• Targeted support from a Health and Wellbeing Specialist to help member reduce stress and improve sleep for herself and her partner
• Practical tools, including Zoom workshops, screen-time management classes, and bilingual coaching sessions (English and Spanish) to bridge communication gaps
• Structured exercises and tips to help the member navigate university-related stress and improve the parent-child bond

Through regular check-ins, the Cleo team continues to monitor the member’s progress. Overall, Maria and her family are doing much better, and their sustained partnership with Cleo aims to build long-term emotional stability and functional family communication.

A global model that respects local realities

Global benefits often fall into the trap of being “too global”—designed for HQ, then rolled out everywhere else with minimal customization. But when it comes to something as personal as caregiving, that approach simply doesn’t work.

Cleo is different. We bring together:

• In-region Cleo Guides with local knowledge
• Multilingual support tailored to real families
• Evidence-based outcomes that reflect the impact of culturally relevant care

And we do it across Latin America, and across the world, one family at a time.

Caregiving may look different across borders—but the need for support is universal.

Ready to support your LATAM employees with benefits that actually work where they live? Let’s talk.