Caregiver 101: What is a Caregiver?

According to the AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) 2025 report, 63 million Americans are caregivers, representing 1 in 4 adults. This is a 45% increase from 2015, adding nearly 20 million caregivers over the decade.

With such a quickly growing number of caregivers in the U.S., it is becoming important to understand what caregiving is. Whether you know a caregiver, or you yourself are caring for a parent, partner, child, friend, or neighbor, your role matters. Understanding what caregiving means can help you access the support and resources you deserve.

What is a Caregiver?

In short, a caregiver is a person who provides support to someone who needs assistance. This can be due to parenthood, aging, illness, injury, disability, or another health condition. Caregivers help with physical, emotional, practical, or day-to-day needs.

Caregiving Comes in Many Forms

Many caregivers tend to not identify themselves as caregivers, because they see their support as part of being a family or friend.

Family Caregivers

• Adult children caring for aging parents
• Spouses supporting partners with health conditions
• Parents caring for young children, teens, or children with special needs or recovery

Informal Caregivers

• Friends
• Neighbors
• Extended family members

These types of caregivers are different from those who are professional caregivers. Family and informal caregivers are unpaid, and often caring for others while handling a full-time job.

What Does a Caregiver Do?

A caregiver has responsibilities that are common and seen widely by the people around them. At the same time, there are often responsibilities with caregiving that are less visible and often offer the most stress.

Common Responsibilities:

• Driving a loved one to appointments
• Preparing meals
• Managing medications
• Running errands
• Helping with personal care and hygiene
• Providing companionship and emotional support

Less Visible Responsibilities:

• Coordinating healthcare
• Making healthcare or financial decisions on behalf of or for a loved one
• Managing schedules
• Communicating with providers
• Advocating for a loved one’s needs

Caregiving is so much more than just hands-on care and is so important to those who need it.

Why are More Employees Becoming Caregivers?

More employees are becoming caregivers because the U.S. population is aging rapidly. Older adults are living longer with complex health needs, which forces working adults to balance their jobs with family care. Many employees are also part of the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents while simultaneously raising children or supporting younger family members. Full-time workers at every level of a company face these responsibilities.

Why Caregiving Matters

Caregiving has a huge impact on our communities and the individuals in them. Caring for someone helps them maintain their independence for longer. It can improve the quality of life for those facing health challenges. It matters because of human connection. More than just completing tasks, it is showing up for someone you care about during a time when they need it most.

Signs You May be a Caregiver

If you think you might be a caregiver, but are hesitant to take on that identity, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you regularly check on a loved one?
• Do you help a family member/neighbor/friend make healthcare decisions?
• Do you assist someone with regular transportation or daily tasks?
• Do you coordinate support and/or resources for someone?

Caregiving is an act of compassion, connection, and commitment. By understanding the role of a caregiver and the impact they make, you can build a stronger foundation for both your well-being and the well-being of those you support.