2023 Caregiver Burnout and Stress Statistics

According to our research team’s analysis of the latest available data:

• Almost 42 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult over 50 in the last 12 months.
• 40% to 70% of family caregivers report clinical symptoms of depression.
• 23% of family caregivers report that caregiving has negatively affected their physical health.

Read on for breakdowns of caregiver demographics, prognoses, costs, and more.

Approximately 41.8 million Americans provide unpaid care to an adult age 50 and over, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the 2020 AARP report Caregiving in the U.S., which contains responses from a sample of 1,204 family caregivers.

The average family caregiver is 50 years old; however, 20% of caregivers are over 65. Women make up 61% of caregivers, and men make up 39%.

Caregivers come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds:

• 61% identify as white.
• 17% identify as Hispanic.
• 14% identify as African American.
• 5% identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander.
• 3% identify as another ethnicity.

Family caregivers also span multiple generations:

• 7% are members of the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945).
• 34% are baby boomers (born 1946-1964).
• 29% are members of Generation X (born 1965-1980).
• 23% are millennials (born 1981-1996).
• 6% are members of Generation Z (born 1997-2012).

Caregivers, both paid and unpaid, are at risk of burnout due to the stressful demands of their duties. The Cleveland Clinic defines caregiver burnout as “a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.”

Caregivers face an increased risk of developing additional health problems. According to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s report on the impact of caregiving on 6.7 million of its subscribers, caregivers are at a higher risk for the following types of mental and physical health problems:

• Adjustment disorder (emotional or behavioral reactions to a life change)
• Anxiety
• Major depression
• Tobacco use disorder
• Obesity
• Hypertension

Of the family caregivers surveyed by The Archangel National Caregiver Survey, as cited in Blue Cross Blue Shield’s report, 57% reported high levels of stress, anxiety, and/or depression. According to this same survey, caregivers often use coping mechanisms that have ill effects on their health, as noted:

• 14% cope with alcohol.
• 18% cope with medication.
• 50% cope with food.

Caregivers, both paid and unpaid, are at risk of burnout due to the stressful demands of their duties. Johns Hopkins Medicine cites the following as leading causes of a caregiver’s burnout:

• Emotional demands stemming from the care recipient’s condition
• A high workload and conflicting demands on caregiver time and resources
• Role ambiguity or being unsure of what they’re responsible for
• Conflicting policies or procedures for caregiving

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The NAC and AARP note that family caregivers spend an average of 22.3 hours a week providing care. About 30% of family caregivers provide more than 21 hours of care each week, and 19% spend more than 41 hours on their caregiving duties. Of both of these groups of family caregivers, 24% care for more than one adult.

Family caregivers may also feel overworked due to fewer available paid caregivers, a result of post-pandemic shortages in the direct care workforce, according to AARP’s 2023 report Valuing the Invaluable. Family caregivers are not only putting more hours towards caregiving — they’re also offering higher-intensity care.

Working on top of family caregiving

Balancing work or a “day job” also adds to the burden of family caregiving. Employed caregivers spent an average of 20 hours per week on caregiving, while unemployed caregivers spent an average of 29 hours per week, according to research conducted by Tufts Medical Center, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. In a 2023 update to the Valuing the Invaluable report, AARP noted that 61% of family caregivers were employed full- or part-time.

Professional caregivers are also spread thin

Paid, full-time professional caregivers are also overworked. Each state has its own laws regarding minimum wage and overtime, but it’s common for many live-in caregivers to be unpaid during the hours that they’re asleep or eating, even though they may still be working, according to labor research on caregivers.

Widespread statistics are difficult to find for paid caregivers because of the high turnover and differences between state regulations. In some states, such as New York, caregivers can legally work a 24-hour shift while only being paid for 13 hours of work.

Lower-income households and family caregivers who were paid hourly were more likely to experience some financial hardships, according to the NAC and AARP. Age also plays a role. Caregivers who cared for an adult aged 50 to 64 reported higher financial strain than those taking care of an older senior. Caregivers under the age of 50 also reported high levels of financial stress.

AARP’s Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report highlights the following effects on family caregivers:

• 27% stopped contributing to savings.
• 20% took on additional debt.
• 20% used up their short-term savings.
• 17% paid their bills late or left bills unpaid.
• 13% borrowed money from others.
• 10% struggled to purchase necessary items, including food.

Additionally, family caregivers are more likely to see negative effects on their jobs and related benefits. The Family Caregiver Alliance notes that in addition to lost wages, caregivers have reduced retirement savings and Social Security benefits.

Paid, professional caregivers also experience financial strain. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) noted that 4.5 million people care for seniors in nursing homes, hospitals, and at home. By 2028, an expected 1.1 million jobs will be added in this field due to an increasing senior population and decreasing availability of family caregivers. Many caregivers leave the field due to low pay, poor benefits, and limited opportunities for career advancement.

A wide range of factors can affect a caregiver’s experience.

Age

The older the caregiver is, the more time they devote to caregiving. The Family Caregiver Alliance reported that adults age 25 to 44 spent an average of 19.3 hours per week on caregiving duties, compared to 25.8 hours for adults between the ages of 45 and 54. Caregivers working more unpaid caregiving hours are also more likely to experience a higher burden of care.

Generational groups experience strain differently, according to AARP:

• The average Gen X caregiver is 49 years old, and they often simultaneously care for younger children, too. These caregivers are more likely to feel they had no choice in taking on the caregiving role and report higher levels of emotional stress.
• The average millennial caregiver is 30 years old. Millennials experience significant financial impacts, as they’re more likely to work hourly jobs on top of caregiving. Many don’t have health insurance and rate their health as fair or poor.

Race and ethnicity

Across different racial and ethnic groups, caregivers report different strains:

• African American caregivers are more likely to experience more instances of financial strain than other ethnic groups.
• Hispanic caregivers have less education and lower income than other ethnic groups. They also report a higher physical strain related to caregiving.
• Asian caregivers report more emotional stress related to caregiving than other ethnic groups.
• White caregivers are, on average, older than caregivers of other ethnic groups.
• Caregivers of color are more likely than white caregivers to report providing care for more than 21 hours a week.
• White and Asian caregivers are less likely to live with their care recipients.

Sex and gender

Women and men experience the effects of caregiving differently:

• 27% of women care for more than one person, compared to 20% of men, according to the NAC and AARP reports.
• Women are more likely than men to be labeled the primary caregiver.
• 68% of men work in addition to caregiving, compared to 58% of women.
• Men work an average of 38.7 hours outside the home, while women work an average of 33.7 hours — all before adding the number of hours spent on caregiving.
• Women lose an estimated $324,000 in earnings due to caregiving, while men lose an estimated $284,000, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance.
• Women are more likely to report higher levels of depression and caregiver burden along with a higher amount of caregiving tasks than men, according to recent research.

Additionally, 9% of caregivers throughout the country are members of the LGBTQ+ community, according to AARP. These caregivers are more likely to face unique challenges, whether they’re caring for a partner or an older family member.

Household and family size

The average size of a family is shrinking, leaving fewer potential caregivers in a family. The AARP Public Policy Institute notes that in 2010 there were an average of 7.1 people within a senior’s extended family able to step into the role of family caregiver. By 2030, that number will shrink to 4.1.

Seniors who are 65 or older will outnumber children under the age of 18 by 2034, according to AARP. This may lead to a higher degree of caregiving overburdening. The Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report from AARP also notes that 37% of caregivers share a residence with their care recipient, while 46% of care recipients live in their own residence. Caregivers who live with their care recipient report more hours spent caregiving and a higher number of caregiving tasks.

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Socioeconomic status

One in three family caregivers reports an annual household income of $50,000 or less, according to NAC and AARP findings. Caregivers with an income below this threshold are more likely to share a residence with their care recipient, while those with a higher income are more likely to have their care recipient live in a care facility.

Additionally, caregivers with an income of less than $30,000 are more likely to have a care recipient with multiple conditions to care for, including behavioral, emotional, or mental health conditions.

Educational attainment

The Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report found that 27% of caregivers with a high school education or less are more likely to rate their health as fair or poor, compared to 17% of caregivers with some college education. Additionally, 18% of caregivers with some college education report a higher financial strain compared to 12% of caregivers with a college degree.

Education also influences expectations. An estimated 64% of people with a college degree thought they would have some caregiving responsibilities in the future, compared to 53% of people with less education. This ability to prepare and plan ahead may ease stress.

Homeownership and residence

As a result of financial stress, 7% of caregivers reported moving to an apartment or a less expensive home. About 2% of caregivers dealt with eviction or foreclosure, as noted by the NAC and AARP.

Depression, anxiety, and fatigue are common symptoms of caregiver burnout, according to Cleveland Clinic.

While emotional symptoms are common, burnout can also include the following physical symptoms:

• Body aches
• Headaches
• Changes in appetite
• Insomnia
• Weakened immune system
• Exhaustion

To prevent burnout, caregivers can try several techniques:

• Delegating care tasks to others when possible
• Educating themselves about their loved one’s condition
• Joining a caregiver support group or visiting a counselor
• Using respite care services to take a break from caregiving
• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule
• Exercising regularly