The prevalence of family caregiving continues to grow dramatically across America. Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of all American adults now provide ongoing care to adults or children with medical conditions or disabilities—a 45 percent increase since 2015. Among these 63 million caregivers, 59 million care specifically for adults with complex medical conditions or disabilities.

More caregivers are managing multiple care responsibilities. Twenty-four percent now care for more than one person, with nearly one-third (29 percent) serving as “sandwich generation” caregivers—simultaneously caring for both an adult with disabilities and a child under 18 in their household.

Multiple factors contribute to this growth:

• The aging population, with increasing life spans but poorer health spans requiring more long-term care and support
• A lack of affordable paid long-term services and supports (LTSS)
• Increased provision of home and community-based services that enable older adults to age at home, where they overwhelmingly want to be
• Growing recognition and identification of caregiving roles across diverse communities
• The confluence of all these demographic and policy trends

Family caregivers have become essential care partners, providing increasingly complex support that spans from intimate personal care to complex medical management. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers (65 percent) now assist with at least one activity of daily living (ADL)—basic tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, and mobility. This represents an increase from previous years, with more caregivers helping with multiple ADLs than ever before.

The scope of daily support continues to expand. Almost all caregivers (99 percent) assist with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)—complex tasks essential for independent living. More than 8 in 10 caregivers (84 percent) now help with three or more IADLs, up from 77 percent in 2015. These responsibilities reflect how caregivers are stepping into increasingly comprehensive roles, managing the intricate web of support that enables people to remain in their homes and communities when illness or disability creates challenges.

The intensity of caregiving has reached unprecedented levels, with many family caregivers providing care equivalent to full-time employment. On average, caregivers now spend 27 hours per week providing care—a substantial commitment that often rivals or exceeds part-time work. Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) provide 40 or more hours of care weekly, equivalent to a full-time job, while an additional 11 percent provide between 21-40 hours per week.

This intensive caregiving reflects both the complexity of care needs and the duration of care relationships. Thirty percent of caregivers have been providing care for five years or more, representing an increase from previous years. When looking at the full picture of caregiving demands—including hours of care, types of tasks, and how challenging it feels to coordinate care—57 percent of family caregivers find themselves in high-intensity situations. This level of commitment underscores the profound responsibility that millions of Americans have taken on, often reshaping their own lives around the needs of those they care for.

Despite the challenges and intensity of caregiving, more than half of family caregivers find deep meaning in their role. Fifty-one percent report that caregiving gives them a sense of purpose or meaning in life, revealing the profound personal significance many attach to caring for their loved ones. This sense of purpose transcends demographics, though it varies notably among different groups—with Hispanic/Latino caregivers, lower-income caregivers, and those caring for nonrelatives reporting even stronger feelings of purpose.

The experience of choice significantly shapes how caregivers view their role. Among the 56 percent of family caregivers who felt they had no choice in becoming a caregiver, 42 percent still find purpose in their caregiving responsibilities. However, for those who felt they had a choice in taking on caregiving, 62 percent find purpose in their role—a meaningful difference that underscores how agency and autonomy can enhance the caregiving experience.