A new AARP report shows that more Americans than ever are caring for aging or disabled family members. The number of family caregivers has jumped 45% in the past decade, placing a growing burden on working adults and middle-class households.
There has been a 45% increase in family caregivers since 2015, bringing the total to over 63 million people. That means nearly 1 in 4 adults in the United States are now providing care to a loved one with a medical condition or disability. The sharp rise is largely driven by an aging Baby Boomer generation and a longer life expectancy that often comes with multiple chronic health conditions.
“These are your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers — people quietly shouldering an enormous responsibility with little recognition or help,” said Rita Choula, senior director of caregiving at the AARP Public Policy Institute.
The data comes from the “Caregiving in the U.S. 2025” report, released jointly by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 family caregivers and found they are not only more numerous, but also providing more complex care — and doing it for longer periods of time.
Nearly half of those receiving care are 75 or older. Alzheimer’s and dementia account for 11% of care cases, but many recipients also suffer from conditions like cancer, heart disease, or mobility issues. About 19% of caregivers reported that their loved one has some form of cognitive impairment. In many cases, the caregiver must assist with bathing, dressing, meals, medication, and even financial matters.
Caroline Edwards, a 59-year-old mother in Mission Viejo, CA, knows the pressure firsthand. She has been caring full-time for her 81-year-old mother, Ingrid Martinez, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2017. “One day you realize her entire life — the bills, the yard, the groceries — is suddenly in your hands,” Edwards said.
The average caregiver is 51 years old. More than 60% are women, and roughly 70% are working either full- or part-time while managing care responsibilities. These dual roles come at a high personal cost. One-third of caregivers have stopped saving money. One in four have depleted their short-term savings entirely. And nearly two-thirds report high emotional stress, while 45% report physical strain.
“Imagine working a 40-hour job and then managing medications, doctor appointments, and everything else,” Choula said. “It takes a toll, especially on millennial and Gen Z caregivers who are trying to build their careers.”
More caregivers now find themselves in the so-called “sandwich generation,” looking after both children and aging parents. Edwards, who also has a teenage daughter, said the constant juggling act is exhausting. “You can’t be a great mom and a great daughter at the same time. It’s impossible,” she said.
Despite the heavy burden, only a small fraction of family caregivers are paid for their time — less than 1 in 5. Roughly 30% say they’ve had to provide care for more than five years, and just 13% report using respite care services. Most caregivers live with or near their care recipients and devote an average of 27 hours a week to caregiving. A quarter say they put in 40 hours or more.
What caregivers want most, according to the report, are practical tools to ease the load: tax credits, paid leave, help with navigating the medical system, and access to affordable respite care.
AARP has backed several policy changes to address these issues. That includes recent moves by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to train family caregivers directly, as well as proposals for tax relief to help offset out-of-pocket costs.
Caregiving often comes with feelings of isolation. Edwards said the emotional cost can be especially steep when caring for someone with dementia. “It’s very isolating, very lonely,” she said. But even in the most difficult moments, she finds meaning in the task. “I do this out of the love I have for her.”
Half of all caregivers in the report said they gained a deeper sense of purpose through the experience. For many, it is a way of giving back to those who once cared for them — a deeply personal act that, while draining, can also be profoundly rewarding.
Choula urged caregivers to connect with their local Aging and Disability Resource Centers, which can offer support and point them to community-based services. “At the end of the day, caregivers need help,” she said. “And the more people take on this role, the more they’re going to seek those resources.”