“New Report: Family Caregiving in the U.S. Has Reached Crisis Levels”

A recent study by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving reveals that approximately 63 million Americans—nearly one in four adults—provided ongoing care for a loved one in the past year. This marks a staggering 45% increase from a decade ago, with many caregivers juggling full-time hours, financial strain, and overwhelming emotional demands.

Key Findings:

• Caregivers’ health is suffering: 1 in 5 caregivers report being in fair or poor health, and nearly 1 in 4 say they struggle to care for their own health due to caregiving responsibilities. Reports of emotional stress have risen since 2020.

• Training is lacking: Only 11% of caregivers have received medical training to assist with ADLs or IADLs, yet more caregivers than ever helping with these tasks. Just over 20% of caregivers have received formal training on medical and nursing tasks despite over half managing complex medical and nursing tasks like injections, wound care, or medication management - yet 65% of caregivers are helping with any ADLs and almost all caregivers help with any IADLs.

• Caregivers feel more alone: Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers report feeling socially isolated—a number that’s growing. Women, LGBTQ+ caregivers, and those who felt they had no choice in becoming caregivers are significantly more likely to report feeling alone.

• The vast majority are still unpaid: While 11.2 million family caregivers now receive some compensation, most are still unpaid. Paid family caregivers are more likely to be younger, lower-income, and racially diverse.

• Caregivers need more support: Support systems are not keeping pace with the demand for family care.

To learn more, read the full report on the AARP Press Room.

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