The Unpaid, Family Caregiver - the Facts

Written By Miles Gloetzner

The role of the unpaid, family caregiver is often on my mind. I looked up some current related statistics to help me better understand the current state of caregivers. I’m going to let them speak for themselves and then offer a few questions at the end.

Take a few moments to read and reflect on these:

  • 1 in 4 adults in the USA are unpaid family caregivers (63 million people) (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • These caregivers spend 40+ hours a week in this unpaid role (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • The value of their contribution is $870 billion annually (Mayo Clinic, as cited in IBJ, 2026; Reinhard et al., 2023).

  • Around 50% experience "severe financial disruption" (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • 70% of these caregivers are also employed (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • 1 in 5 rate their own health as fair or poor (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • Only 11% receive formal training (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • About 1 in 3 caregivers are also raising their own children (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP, 2025).

  • Over 80% of Gen X and Millennial caregivers worry about having enough money to support both their own family’s needs and their parents' (Care.com, 2026; New York Life, 2024).

What surprised you?

What do you most relate with?

What emotions do they stir?

What ideas and thoughts come to mind?

What solutions do you have for caring for the carer?

A warm, natural lit room with a family around a man in a hospice bed - some hugs, tears - all love.

References

Care.com. (2026). The 2026 sandwich generation report: What it looks like to care for children and aging parents. Care.com. https://www.care.com/c/sandwich-generation-caregiver-report/

National Alliance for Caregiving, & AARP. (2025). Caregiving in the U.S. 2025. AARP Research. https://www.caregivingintheus.org/

New York Life. (2024). Wealth watch survey: Caregiving financial impact on younger generations. New York Life Insurance Company. https://www.newyorklife.com/

Reinhard, S. C., Caldera, S., Houser, A., & Choula, R. B. (2023). Valuing the invaluable 2023 update: Strengthening support for family caregivers. AARP Public Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.26419/ppi.00082.006

Miles Gloetzner https://www.inhora.org
Next

Is it really wrong to NOT say death?