Every single one of us, if we live long enough, is likely to experience being a family caregiver, needing a family caregiver, or both.
Each year, more than 53 million family caregivers provide the majority of support that makes it possible for older people and people with disabilities to live in the community (AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, 2020). In addition, at least 2.7 million grandparents – and an unknown number of other kin and relative caregivers – carried the primary responsibility for caring for children whose parents were unable to do so (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2019). When formal systems of caregiving break down (as we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic) or are not available in the first place, family caregivers step in—often on short notice—and cover whatever is needed: meals, transportation, chores, personal care, education, medical tasks, administrative assistance, language translation, and even IT support (AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving, 2020).
Read the full report here.
