For the last ten years, AARP has prepared annual reports that assess the state of family caregiving in the United States. The 2025 report provides a snapshot of the 63 million Americans who provide unpaid care to a disabled child or adult.

The 63 million caregivers constitute almost a quarter of all American adults. Their numbers have grown almost 45% during the ten years that AARP has produced its annual caregiving surveys. The growth of family caregivers reflects the aging of American society. Of the 63 million caregivers, 59 million are caring for adults.

 

Who Are Family Caregivers?

Family caregivers come in all ages, from children to seniors, but the average age is 61. Older caregivers usually care for a spouse, while younger caregivers usually provide services to their disabled children or to their parents or grandparents.

About 24% of unpaid caregivers provide services to more than one person (typically their two parents). Only 11% of unpaid caregivers provide care to nonrelatives, including neighbors and friends. While unpaid caregivers volunteer their services, more than half (56%) feel they have no choice.

Family caregivers are racially diverse, reflecting the nation as a whole: about 61% are white and non-Hispanic; 16% are Latino/Hispanic; 13% are Black; and 6% are Asian. The majority (61%) of family caregivers are women.

 

For Whom Do They Care?

Family caregivers primarily serve older adults. Nearly half the Americans who are assisted by unpaid caregivers are 75 or older. People need care because they are disabled or suffering from serious health conditions. Most older adults who receive help from family caregivers have more than one chronic health condition. Those conditions tend to limit mobility, preventing the care recipient from going about their lives without assistance.

Cognitive issues also contribute to the need for family caregivers. About 27% of unpaid caregivers are helping someone who suffers from dementia or other memory-related impairments.

Younger caregivers tend to help relatives who need short-term care, such as time needed to recover after discharge from a hospital. Older caregivers (often those who help their spouses) usually support people who have long-term health issues. However, caregivers of all ages may join together to help members of their households.

 

What Services Do Family Caregivers Provide?

Two-thirds of family caregivers assist the care recipient with at least one activity of daily living, such as eating, bathing, or getting dressed. Nearly a quarter of caregivers report struggling with those difficult physical activities.

A large majority of caregivers (84%) help care recipients with at least three instrumental activities of daily living, including shopping, meal preparation, helping with finances, and furnishing transportation. Only 11% of family caregivers have received formal training in the services they provide.

About 55% of family caregivers provide some medical or nursing assistance, such as administering injections, inserting catheters, or monitoring vital signs. Just 22% have been trained to perform those tasks.

Nearly two-thirds of caregivers communicate with healthcare providers on the care recipient’s behalf. About 58% advocate for the recipient’s healthcare. Older caregivers are more likely than younger ones to interface with healthcare providers or advocate for medical treatment.

 

Where Do Family Caregivers Live?

About 40% of family caregivers live with the person for whom they are caring. Another 35% live nearby. Whether caregivers live with the recipients of their care is often a function of income. Lower-income caregivers tend to live with their care recipients. About 20% of family caregivers live in rural areas. This is again consistent with the demographic distribution of people in the nation as a whole.

 

How Much Time Do They Devote to Caregiving?

Family caregivers spend an average of 27 hours per week providing care. About 24% of unpaid caregivers provide care for 40 or more hours per week. About 30% of caregivers have provided care for five years or longer. That percentage has increased significantly since 2020.

 

Do Family Caregivers Work Outside the Home?

Seven in ten family caregivers have paid employment. Balancing an outside job with the unpaid job of caregiving is usually stressful. Job security may be impaired because caregiving duties make the caregiver late for work, require her to leave early, or preclude opportunities to work overtime.

While opportunities for remote work increased during the pandemic, many caregivers are reluctant to ask for accommodations of their caregiving role. Slightly fewer than half of all caregivers who work in the labor force have told their employers about their caregiving responsibilities.

 

What Financial Sacrifices Have Family Caregivers Made?

Caregiving takes a toll on financial security. About 22% of family caregivers have taken on more debt because of their caregiving responsibilities. A third of caregivers have stopped saving money. Nearly a third of caregivers who have other jobs are using up their short-term savings, while 24% of caregivers who have no outside employment have exhausted those savings.

Family caregivers often delay their own retirement so they can keep earning income they need to continue providing caregiving services. Some caregivers — particularly those who are younger, low-income, nonwhite, or members of the LGBTQ community — face housing insecurity because of their commitment to caregiving.

 

Do Family Caregivers Take Care of Their Own Health?

A quarter of family caregivers report difficulty caring for themselves, while 20% rate their own health as fair or poor. Almost two-thirds of caregivers experience high rates of stress while 45% are affected by the physical strain of their caregiving tasks.

Caregivers who live with their recipients are less likely to use paid or unpaid respite care to take a break from their caregiving obligation. However, whether caregivers live with their care recipients or live elsewhere, most do not use respite care. Lack of trust, concerns about the quality of care, and a sense of shame at taking a break from caregiving are common reasons why caregivers do not use respite care, even when they feel they would benefit from it.

Social isolation has been an increasing problem for caregivers during the ten years that AARP has been following the nation’s caregivers. About 24% of caregivers report that they feel alone.

Caregivers who feel they have no choice but to assist a disabled family member are significantly more likely than other caregivers to experience worsening mental health. They are also less likely than others to take satisfaction in their caregiving.

Most caregivers nevertheless feel that caregiving provides a sense of purpose. Caregivers as a group tend to be resilient individuals who find meaning in the support they provide to their loved ones.