Caregiver Burnout Report

Around 21% of the U.S. population currently provides unpaid care to spouses, relatives, and friends. Caregiving involves looking after someone who needs extra assistance due to age, illness, disability, mental health conditions, or addiction.

Unpaid caregivers often carry out daily tasks for their loved ones, such as helping them get washed and dressed (called activities of daily living), doing shopping and housework, and managing finances. This can often lead to feeling overwhelmed and physically or emotionally drained. 

We’ve analyzed the unpaid caregiver landscape to determine the true financial, emotional, and social impact of caring for a loved one. 

If you’re struggling with the responsibilities of being an unpaid caregiver, Caring.com can provide support and advice, particularly on options such as assisted living and nursing homes.

In 2011, approximately 18.2 million people in the U.S. were categorized as unpaid carers to older adults. By 2022, this figure had jumped to 24.1 million, increasing by over 32.4%. 

There are many potential reasons for this increase, one being the aging population in the U.S., now that the average life expectancy for a U.S. adult is around 78 years. Because American adults are living longer (if not necessarily living happier or better), there has been an increase in the demand for caregiving services, causing caregiving services to reach capacity much quicker and become more expensive. This has led to more people being unpaid carers for a loved one.

Although women make up the majority of unpaid caregivers in the U.S., there isn’t a vast difference in the gender split. Of the United States’ unpaid caregivers, 53% are female, whereas 47% are male. Please note that these caregivers were part of a subset of registered U.S voters. There are likely even more caregivers in the U.S. than could participate in this poll. There is no data on caregivers with genders outside the binary.

A report by Wells Fargo found that most unpaid female caregivers in the U.S. are aged 55 or over, many of which have been forced to leave their jobs to care for a loved one. Those who remain in the labor force often reduce their working hours to look after a family member or friend. Both of these situations can have a significant financial impact on an unpaid caregiver.

Two in five (40%) unpaid caregivers in the U.S. spend over 21 hours/week caring for a loved one. Based on the standard eight-hour work day, this is equivalent to more than an extra two and a half days of work per week. This could significantly impact a person’s mental and physical health, potentially leading to burnout. 

Almost a quarter of U.S. unpaid caregivers spend 6-10 hours/week looking after a friend or family member. This is followed by 11-20 hours (18%) and five or fewer hours (10%). 

Among unpaid caregivers, 8% aren’t sure how many hours they spend looking after a loved one each week. This may be due to fluctuating levels of care required and juggling work or family commitments.

Caring.com’s 2025 mental health study found that over 43% of respondents were seniors caring for their spouses. Because the aging process often presents new disabilities and illnesses, it’s common for older couples to require support and assistance from their partner as they grow older. 

Almost 22.7% of respondents who are caregivers look after their parent(s). These situations can often take an emotional toll on the carer, as they may be required to take on big responsibilities, such as becoming a medical or financial power of attorney. Due to the relationship involved, the carers may also feel obliged to provide care for their parent(s) beyond their limits.

On average, each unpaid caregiver in the U.S. spends around 18 hours/week looking after a loved one, with the estimated value of this work being $16.59/hour. This means that if each caregiver were to be paid for their time, they would earn around $298.62/week.

This equates to over $1,294/month and more than $15,528/year. These calculations show the true financial impact that unpaid caregiving can have on an individual, particularly as some are forced to reduce their working hours or resign from their job altogether.

Almost a third (29%) of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. spend between $1,000 and $5,000 annually on caregiving expenses. This includes money out of their own pocket for medical supplies and equipment, transportation, and home modification for their loved ones.

Around 11% of unpaid caregivers in the United States have annual caregiving expenses of more than $10,000. These expenses can cause immense financial pressure on unpaid caregivers, particularly if they can’t work full-time due to their caregiving responsibilities. 

If financial difficulties arise, unpaid caregivers may struggle to afford essentials such as food and heating. This can cause them to rely on debt solutions, such as credit cards and overdrafts, worsening their financial pressures and worries.

Managing time can be difficult for unpaid caregivers, particularly if unexpected situations arise. It’s unsurprising, then, that 18% of unpaid carers in the U.S. say time commitment is their biggest challenge, with another 10% struggling to balance work and caregiving. Caregiving responsibilities can often lead to the carer not having time to unwind and relax or do things they enjoy, leading to caregiver burnout.

A further 18% of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. identified money as their biggest challenge. These stresses can arise from various situations, such as reduced work hours or the cost of necessary medical equipment and medication.

Unpaid carers can often feel as though they don’t have any assistance or support with their caregiving responsibilities. 17% of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. described this as their biggest challenge when looking after their loved one. Whether this refers to a lack of physical or emotional support (or both), being a carer for a friend or family member can often leave the carer feeling lonely and overwhelmed.

Caring for a loved one can have a significant impact on someone’s mental health. In a Caring.com survey, 38.98.3% of respondents who are caregivers said that they have both anxiety and depression. A further 45.76% said that they have anxiety only, and another 15.25% said that they have depression only.

These mental health conditions can stem from a range of things, such as financial pressures, worrying about personal well-being, lack of support, and the emotional impact of seeing a loved one unwell.

The same survey found that 16.15% of respondents had lived with anxiety and/or depression since their adolescence. While these mental health conditions may have started before an individual became an unpaid carer, caregiving responsibilities can sometimes cause the effects to worsen.

The duties of unpaid caregiving can also impact an individual’s physical health. For example, if an unpaid carer is struggling mentally with their caregiving responsibilities, they may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Over one in six (16.6%) unpaid carers in the U.S. said that they currently smoke cigarettes. In addition, more than one in five (20.7%) said that they currently engage in some form of drinking, whether this be binge drinking (14.2%) or heavy drinking (6.5%). Although unpaid caregivers may engage in these behaviors to alleviate stress, these particular behaviors can often worsen the issue.

Physical activity is elusive – 22% of unpaid carers in the U.S. also find it hard to engage in physical activity. This may be for a number of reasons, including a lack of motivation or fatigue from looking after a loved one.

Many unpaid carers in the U.S. have a chronic physical condition. Whether these conditions pre-exist or develop as a result of being an unpaid carer, the conditions can make it difficult to carry out necessary tasks.

Almost two-fifths (38%) of unpaid caregivers in the United States live with obesity. This is most likely due to reduced time for healthy habits, such as exercising and preparing healthy meals. This lack of time may lead to caregivers grabbing quick and easy meals from fast-food restaurants. Even going for a walk could be difficult if no one else is around to watch a caregiver’s less-mobile loved one.

Then there are the limits within the caregivers’ own bodies. Almost 35% of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. suffer from arthritis, which can cause pain, inflammation, and stiffness in joints. This will especially make things difficult for those providing hands-on care. For example, caregivers with inflamed joints may struggle to transfer their loved one from bed to a chair or the toilet.

1. Prioritize personal well-being and self-care

Many unpaid caregivers often struggle to find time to relax and unwind. However, it’s important to try to prioritize personal well-being so that you can take care of your mental health and carry out your caregiving responsibilities. Whether it’s reading a book, meeting a friend for a coffee, or watching an episode of your favorite TV show, make sure to engage in self-care activities so that you’re able to rest and recuperate.

2. Focus on basic personal needs

​​​​​​​It’s also important to ensure that your basic needs are met, such as getting enough sleep and eating well. Without this, not only will you potentially suffer from bad mental and physical health, but your caregiving duties may also suffer as a result. Many caregivers struggle to eat properly daily, so if possible, it may be a good idea to prep some healthy meals and snacks for the week that you can quickly grab and eat on the go.​​​​​​​

3. Set realistic boundaries

While you may feel obliged to carry out every aspect of your loved one’s care, this can often be too much for one person to handle mentally and physically. It’s important to determine how much you can realistically manage in your caring role and communicate this with anyone involved. This may include having designated caring hours, avoiding lifting or transferring, or setting a shared care schedule.

4. Seek support, if needed

Being an unpaid carer can significantly impact someone’s mental health. It’s important not to suffer in silence and seek help and support if you feel as though you’re struggling with your duties. Whether this involves confiding in a loved one, attending therapy sessions or support groups, or speaking to health professionals, it’s important to voice your thoughts and feelings to avoid burnout. You can find additional caregiver support on the Caring.com caregiver resources hub.

• Cobbe, Tom, et al. (2024). Caregiving while working calls for workplace flexibility. AARP
• House, Sarah, et al. (2024). Can’t grow old without her: Women’s central role in a growing eldercare economy. Wells Fargo
• Kalvesmaki, A.F., et al. (2024). The challenge of identifying young carers in the US: How state laws put families at risk for separation. Bristol University Press Digital
• Keenan, T.A. (2023). U.S. voters’ views on support for family caregiving. AARP
• Kilmer, Greta, et al. (2024). Changes in health indicators among caregivers - United States, 2015-2016 to 2021-2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Rakshit, Shameek, et al. (2025). How does U.S. life expectancy compare to other countries? Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
• Reinhard, S.C., et al. (2023). Valuing the invaluable 2023 update: Strengthening supports for family caregivers. AARP
• Wolff, J.L., et al. (2025). The number of family caregivers helping older US adults increased from 18 million to 24 million, 2011-22. HealthAffairs