The Hidden Crisis: How America's 63 Million Family Caregivers are Struggling to Balance Health, Finances, and Family

 In recent years, family caregiving has become an increasingly pressing issue in both the United States and Europe, particularly in the context of aging societies. More and more adults are taking on caregiving roles for family members, and this shift is not only affecting the caregivers themselves but also having profound impacts on social economics, healthcare systems, and family structures. 

According to the 2025 "Caregiving in the U.S." report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), the number of Americans providing family care has surged by 45% in the past decade, with nearly 63 million Americans now fulfilling caregiving responsibilities. Astonishingly, this group now represents one-quarter of the adult population in the United States.

This dramatic increase in caregivers reflects broader societal changes but also highlights numerous challenges that are often more complicated and burdensome than they first appear. Traditionally, family caregiving was seen as a task primarily undertaken by women, particularly the responsibility of caring for elderly parents. 

However, today’s caregiving population is more diverse. The new generation of caregivers includes younger individuals, particularly millennials and Gen Z, as well as those from a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. 

These caregivers are often juggling multiple roles—balancing jobs, raising children, and caring for elderly parents or relatives with serious health conditions or disabilities. This phenomenon, known as the "sandwich generation," is becoming more widespread. Recent data shows that 29% of caregivers belong to this group, and the number rises to 47% among caregivers under the age of 50.

Today's caregiving responsibilities are far more complex than in the past. Caregivers are no longer just handling basic daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Increasingly, caregivers are required to manage complicated medical tasks, such as overseeing chronic illnesses, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and even performing medical procedures that would traditionally be done by healthcare professionals. In this regard, family caregivers are assuming roles once performed exclusively by healthcare providers, often without the necessary training or resources.

Take, for example, the case of Debbi Harris, a 67-year-old mother of three. Her 32-year-old son, Joshua, sustained a brain hemorrhage at birth that resulted in multiple medical complications, including cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus. Joshua relies on a ventilator, tracheostomy, and feeding tube to survive. He cannot regulate vital functions such as heart rate or body temperature and requires constant, round-the-clock care. 

Debbi and her husband, Victor, manage a home care system that rivals a hospital ICU. They provide Joshua with personal care, manage his medications, and track medical appointments, all while being vigilant for any signs of a potential crisis. The entire family is involved in Joshua's care—Debbi's husband takes the night shifts, and their sons assist with medical supplies and help manage Joshua’s 24-hour care schedule.

Despite the Harris family's tireless efforts, the demands of caregiving are immense. According to the 2025 AARP report, 44% of caregivers report providing "high-intensity" care, with 30% having been in the role for five years or more. What’s more, caregivers’ own health is suffering. The report finds that 20% of caregivers describe their health as "fair" or "poor," directly attributing these conditions to the strain of caregiving.

In addition to the physical and emotional toll, caregiving imposes significant financial pressures. The AARP report indicates that many caregivers are experiencing financial hardship due to their caregiving responsibilities. More than a third of caregivers report having stopped saving, 24% have exhausted their short-term savings, and 13% have dipped into long-term savings such as retirement funds or educational accounts. Furthermore, 23% of caregivers are in debt because of their caregiving duties.

The financial situation for many caregivers is worsened by the lack of adequate compensation. The report reveals that only 11 million caregivers receive some form of financial support, primarily through Medicaid waivers, Veterans Affairs benefits, or other government programs. However, the vast majority of caregivers (47.8 million) provide unpaid care. Only about 1.9 million caregivers are compensated exclusively for their caregiving work, and even these payments are often insufficient to ensure financial security.

Jessica Guthrie’s story highlights the financial and emotional sacrifices many caregivers face. At the age of 26, Jessica began caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, she provided long-distance care, which led to severe exhaustion and burnout from juggling her demanding job and frequent travel. 

Eventually, Jessica decided to move back home to Virginia to provide full-time care. However, even after quitting her high-level job to focus on her mother's escalating needs, the strain on her own health and well-being continued to worsen. Jessica’s story underscores a troubling reality for many millennials and solo caregivers who have sacrificed their careers and personal lives to care for loved ones.

As family caregivers are often invisible in the broader workforce, many employers are beginning to recognize the importance of supporting these individuals. In response, some businesses have started offering more flexible work arrangements and caregiving benefits to help employees balance their responsibilities at work and at home. 

However, these workplace benefits are more commonly extended to salaried employees, leaving hourly workers with little to no support. This disparity has raised concerns among advocacy groups, who stress that caregivers should be recognized as a vital workforce deserving of more robust support.

Despite the increasing recognition of family caregivers’ essential roles, much more needs to be done. Governments need to implement structural reforms to better support caregivers, including more comprehensive financial assistance, greater access to healthcare services, and better workplace protections. 

Policymakers should consider expanding paid family leave, increasing tax credits for caregivers, and improving access to respite care. In addition, businesses must do more to accommodate caregivers, particularly those in lower-wage jobs, by offering more flexible work schedules, paid leave, and healthcare benefits.

The impact of caregiving is felt not only by the caregivers themselves but also by the broader society. Family caregivers are often the backbone of the long-term care system, but their work is frequently undervalued, underpaid, and under-supported. 

As the aging population in the U.S. and Europe continues to grow, the demand for family caregiving will only intensify. With the oldest baby boomers turning 80 next year, the need for family caregivers will only increase, placing even greater strain on this already overstretched group.

In conclusion, family caregiving is not just an individual responsibility; it is a societal issue that requires collective action. The increasing demand for caregiving, combined with the challenges caregivers face, calls for a comprehensive response from governments, employers, and society as a whole. 

Only through coordinated efforts can we ensure that caregivers receive the support, recognition, and compensation they deserve, enabling them to continue their invaluable work while maintaining their own health, financial stability, and dignity. Without these changes, the caregiving crisis will continue to grow, and millions of families will be left to bear the overwhelming burden alone.