AARP - American Association of Retired Persons

10/28/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/28/2025 07:01

New State-by-State Data Expose the Crushing Financial Strain of Family Caregiving — and Call for Immediate Federal and State Action

New State-by-State Data Expose the Crushing Financial Strain of Family Caregiving - and Call for Immediate Federal and State Action

New Findings from AARP And NAC Urge Lawmakers to Strengthen Supports for Nation's 63 Million Caregivers.

WASHINGTON - New state-level joint analysis of Caregiving in the US 2025 by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), released today, reveals how where you live shapes the caregiving experience in America, uncovering sweeping financial and emotional challenges facing millions of family caregivers. The data finds that policy choices matter and states with strong supports - such as paid leave, respite care, and health system integration - report better outcomes for family caregivers.

Building on the national Caregiving in the US 2025 report released earlier this year, the new data offer a state-by-state look at the realities family caregivers face, showing major differences in who provides care, how much care they give, and what support is available to them. With 63 million family caregivers nationwide - nearly one in four adults - the findings underscore the urgent need for policy solutions at both the federal and state levels.

"Caregivers are the invisible backbone of our broken long-term care system and economy, and too many are paying the price out of their own pockets, risking their own financial security by taking on more debt, using up savings, and leaving bills unpaid," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP's Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer."This new data offers the clearest picture yet of America's caregivers nationwide and a roadmap for the change they urgently need.AARP is urging for policy solutions at both the federal and state levels to address this growing crisiswith commonsense solutions that help family caregivers save money and time - and get the support they need."

"These state-by-state disparities expose how policy choices determine whether families thrive or collapse under caregiving responsibilities," said Jason Resendez, President and CEO of NAC. "When financial strain hits 59% of family caregivers in Georgia compared to just 34% in Minnesota - meaning where you live can double your risk of economic hardship - it's clear that patchwork state solutions aren't enough."

Key Findings Highlight Stark State Differences:

  • Caregiver Prevalence and Intensity: The percentage of adults who are caregivers ranges from 20% of adults in D.C. to 34% in Mississippi. The share of high-intensity caregivers, those providing the most demanding care, varies from 31% in Wisconsin to 55% in Tennessee.
  • Financial Strain and Unequal Relief: Nearly halfof caregivers nationally face financial strain, rising to 59% in Georgia, compared to 34% in Minnesota. The percentage of family caregivers who receive pay for caregiving ranges from 10% in Iowa to 28% in New Jersey, highlighting how relief often depends on where you live.

AARP and NAC are calling on policymakers to:

  • Strengthen financial supports and save caregivers money with passage of federal legislation like the Credit for Caring Act, a proposed federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for working caregivers, and the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, which would expand flexible spending and health savings account uses.;
  • Ensure Medicaid home- and community-based care options allow family caregivers to earn compensation.
  • Integrate caregiver recognition and training into healthcare systems; and
  • Learn from top-performing states to replicate effective policies nationwide.


For more information and state-level caregiving profiles, visit: Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States .

###

About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 1 25 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/ , www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

About the National Alliance for Caregiving
Since 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) has been a catalyst for change, transforming how the United States recognizes, supports, and values our 63 million family caregivers providing complex care. Through our nationally recognized research and our advocacy for the first-ever National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, we drive the policy, system, and culture change needed to make family caregivers a national priority. With more than 50 members, we build partnerships across aging, disability, healthcare, philanthropy, and the private sector to make caregiving more sustainable, equitable, and dignified. To learn more visit www.caregiving.org.

For further information: AARP: Ilse Zuniga, [email protected], NAC: Davisha Davis, [email protected]

AARP - American Association of Retired Persons published this content on October 28, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 28, 2025 at 13:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]