Family Caregivers

This report is an update to NAC's research series, Caregiving in the U.S., conducted roughly every five years. The 2020 update shows that the number of family caregivers in the United States has increased by 9.5 million from 2015 to 2020. The report has also found that the general health of family caregivers has declined in the last five years. Read the full report to learn more. Dowload is available in Spanish.

GAO recently published a report to examine how other countries provide support to family caregivers, challenges present in these approaches, and the development of HHS’ national family caregiving strategy. GAO researched caregiver policies from Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which focused on employment flexibility, income support, and pension credits for family caregivers.

The Center for Health Care Strategies published a brief highlighting six states – Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia – who have participated in innovative work to boost the support network for family caregivers. The brief includes lesson learned from each of the states’ programs and policies that support family caregivers. Additionally, the brief describes four elements that are essential to making effective changes to family caregiver support programs.

This fact sheet was developed as part of the Center’s Helping States Support Families Caring for an Aging America initiative. Six states – Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia- are involved with the initiative. This fact sheet provides an overview of unpaid family caregiving and lists options state leaders can consider implementing in order to support family caregivers in their state.

This report highlights innovative approaches in supporting family caregivers. The report features programs in Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Washington.

This paper discusses the challenges facing family caregivers and opportunities to help and support family caregivers.