Training for Caregivers

Family caregivers provide billions of hours of unpaid care annually while facing substantial personal and financial challenges. As caregiving demands grow with an aging population, targeted policy solutions become more essential. This section examines caregivers’ preferences for financial support, programs, and planning tools to inform comprehensive policy development.

The economic impact of caregiving extends far beyond immediate out-of-pocket expenses. Many caregivers reduce work hours, pass up promotions, or leave the workforce entirely, resulting in lost wages, reduced retirement savings, and diminished Social Security benefits. These career sacrifices can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lifetime earnings losses. To address these substantial financial challenges, caregivers seek policy solutions that provide meaningful relief.

Most family caregivers think tax credits, paid leave, and programs that provide pay for caregiving would be financially helpful, consistent with sentiments toward these same policies in 2020. This strong support reflects the significant financial challenge that caregiving places on families across America. According to the data, 69 percent would find an income tax credit helpful, 68 percent consider caregiver payment programs helpful, and 55 percent view partially paid leaves of absence as helpful.

Family caregivers across income levels express different preferences for financial support mechanisms, reflecting their unique economic circumstances. Those with household incomes below $50,000 are more likely to find direct payment programs valuable (71 percent compared with 67 percent of higher-income caregivers). Meanwhile, caregivers earning $50,000 or more tend to prefer income tax credits (71 percent vs. 64 percent of lower-income caregivers). These divergent preferences underscore the importance of developing diverse financial support policies that address the varied needs of family caregivers.

Family caregivers express clear preferences regarding supportive programs and services that address their multifaceted needs. The highest demand is for respite services, with 39 percent valuing programs that provide temporary relief and breaks from caregiving. Additionally, one-third of caregivers (33 percent) want policies requiring health care professionals to assess their needs as caregivers to better support their care recipients.

Caregivers increasingly recognize their own well-being as essential, with 3 in 10 seeking more help or information to manage their emotional or physical stress. Meanwhile, 22 percent would find conversations with health care professionals about addressing their self-care needs beneficial. Practical support remains important as well, with 27 percent of caregivers seeking assistance in keeping care recipients safe at home, whereas 26 percent need help managing paperwork or navigating eligibility requirements for services. These findings highlight the importance of developing comprehensive support systems that recognize caregivers not only as providers of care but as individuals with distinct needs requiring attention and resources to sustain that care.

The implementation of comprehensive care plans represents a critical component in supporting family caregivers, yet significant gaps remain. Despite their importance for managing financial matters, health care decisions, and living arrangements, 38 percent of caregivers report that no established plans exist, whereas an additional 19 percent are uncertain whether such plans are in place. Encouragingly, progress has been made since 2015, with 47 percent of family caregivers now reporting they have implemented long-range plans for their own futures.

This growing emphasis on future planning could reflect an increasing awareness of the need for structured support systems that address both immediate caregiving responsibilities and long-term personal well-being through clearly defined instructions for financial management, health care choices, and residential considerations.

Over the past decade, family caregiving has become an increasingly prevalent experience. In 2015, 18 percent of all American adults (44 million) were caring for an adult or child with a disability or serious medical condition. By 2025, those numbers had risen to 24 percent of all Americans, or 63 million adults. While there are inherent similarities across caregiving experiences, each situation is also unique.

Caregivers come from all backgrounds. Although the average caregiver age is 51, just over 40 percent are between ages 18 and 50. Most are caring for a relative facing multiple, complex health conditions that demand a wide range of skills and adaptability on the caregiver’s part. Caregivers help with medical and nursing tasks, ADLs, management of their care recipient’s finances, coordination of health care and social services, and countless other functions.

The intensity and duration of caregiving are increasing. Thirty percent of caregivers have been caregiving for five years or more, and more caregivers than ever are assisting with ADLs. More than half of caregivers balance these extensive responsibilities with employment and often face work disruptions because of care demands. Financial strain is common, especially among African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, lower-income, and younger caregivers. Additionally, caregiving takes a toll on personal health: 20 percent report fair or poor health, and nearly a quarter struggle to care for themselves.

As caregiving continues to shift in scope, intensity, and complexity—driven by demographic, technological, and health care changes—it is crucial to understand the vital role of caregivers in our health and social systems. Only by recognizing the full picture of caregivers, and the range of roles they perform, can we begin to ensure the support they need.