U.S. family caregivers rise 45% in a decade, report warns of crisis
WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES — A landmark report reveals a staggering 45% surge in family caregivers in the United States over the past decade.
The 2025 “Caregiving in the U.S.” study, from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Alliance for Caregiving, details the immense physical, emotional, and financial toll shouldered by 63 million adults, highlighting a mounting national crisis.
Unprecedented scale and intensity of modern caregiving
The job has become a significant financial burden, with approximately a quarter of caregivers dedicating over 40 hours per week to care arrangements, equivalent to a full-time employee, and a third having done so for more than five years.
This hard work is normally done without the necessary preparations, which makes the situation even worse. Formal training on day-to-day living activities, such as bathing and dressing, was implemented for only 11% of the caregivers, yet two out of three provided direct care.
In addition, over 50% of them carry out complex medical functions, including injections and wound management. However, more than 22% have been trained to perform such care formally, exposing both the provider and patient to possible risks.
Severe financial and professional repercussions
The economic constraint that the role of being a caregiver demands is vast and deep, and it influences financial security.
Some are racking up considerable debts, have to put off turning off their workplace at retirement, or are experiencing uncertainty of housing as the pressure of the job takes a stranglehold.
General career-related challenges also exacerbate these economic burdens, and there is minimal help from employers. Seven in ten working-age (18 to 64) caregivers are employed, and half of them experience work interference issues, such as arriving late to work or leaving early.
51% of employees have not shared their status with a supervisor. Furthermore, the availability of benefits like paid leave and remote work options is highly biased against hourly employees, as only a slim majority of salaried employees have access to these benefits.
Systemic reforms and outsourcing solutions
The report presents its recommendations as a means of action, aiming to facilitate springboard-positioning changes within its system that support the rejuvenating work of caregivers. Financial relief is overwhelmingly desired by caregivers, with 69 supporting tax credits and 68 direct payment programs.
It is here that non-medical expeditious outsourcing can help. Most of the activities of daily living (IADLs) that most caregivers provide are services, including providing food, moving, cleaning, and even financial management.
By assigning these chores to community-based service or a commercial firm, a caregiver can save a significant amount of time, avoid physical effort, and dedicate more time to personal connection and medical care, which involves problem-solving.
Although 28% of caregivers already experience trouble accessing affordable services, increased access to such responses is one of the evident and implemented solutions to mitigate the overwhelming burden.
