Headed to #USAging26? Be sure to add the Caregiving Summit to your plans—but don’t wait! Join us July 18 for this energizing pre-conference intensive (PCI) featuring caregiving insights from federal partners and AAA leaders. Walk away with actionable ideas to enhance caregiver outreach, navigation and connection.

Spots are limited, so be sure to select this PCI when you complete your conference registration to secure your spot today!

A recent Pew Research Center study sheds light on how caregiving responsibilities are evolving across the United States. Based on responses from 8,750 adults surveyed in September 2025, the research highlights key trends affecting caregivers.

Caregiving demands increase significantly for adults supporting loved ones ages 75 and older. Lower income individuals are more likely to take on caregiving roles compared to those with higher incomes. The study also found that caregiving impacts men and women differently, with women more likely to report negative effects on their personal well-being.

There is also strong public support for policies that assist caregivers:

• Seventy-eight percent support tax credits to offset caregiving costs.
• Seventy-one percent support short-term care options to provide relief.
• Sixty-nine percent support paid family leave requirements.
• Sixty-three percent support direct financial assistance.

A new report from AARP estimates that family caregivers provide more than $1 trillion in unpaid labor each year in the United States. This reflects the contributions of roughly 59 million caregivers who delivered nearly 50 billion hours of care in 2024 alone. If compensated, this work would average about $20 per hour and equal the efforts of nearly 24 million full-time workers. The total value now exceeds Medicaid spending, underscoring the essential role caregivers play in supporting older adults and people with disabilities at home and in their communities.

At the same time, caregiving often comes with significant personal and financial strain. Many caregivers balance employment, health needs and complex care responsibilities with limited support. These findings highlight both the scale of caregivers’ contributions and the growing need for policies and programs that invest in and sustain this critical workforce.

Implementing the National Caregiving Strategy

Since the release of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, states and organizations have been working to strengthen caregiver support systems. Efforts include outreach campaigns, improved coordination of services and expanded access to resources. In this recorded webinar, speakers from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, The John A. Hartford Foundation and state leaders discuss current initiatives and early lessons from implementation grants awarded to four states to support family caregivers.

California Caregiver Resource Centers

The California Caregiver Resource Centers continue to expand access to education and support for family caregivers through free virtual events. This is a coordinated effort to offer a wide range of programs in multiple languages, with topics of interest to family and friend caregivers, that are open to all caregivers nationwide.

A current C3 grantee, Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), was highlighted in the local news for its meaningful impact supporting older adults across Maine. Through their volunteer-driven program, SMAA connects older adults with trained volunteers who provide companionship, transportation and help with everyday tasks, enabling them to remain independent at home.

As Maine’s population continues to age, programs like SMAA are helping address growing needs while also reducing social isolation, particularly in rural communities. As well as supporting older adults, these efforts also provide relief for family caregivers and strengthen community connections through volunteer engagement.

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