Family Caregiving in an Aging America

Lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse or partner are more likely to be caregivers than those in higher income tiers

As the U.S. population ages, the need for caregivers among older adults is on the rise. There’s growing evidence that family members are increasingly taking on these roles.

We surveyed 8,750 U.S. adults from Sept. 2-8, 2025, to learn about:

• The experiences of those who are caring for an aging parent
• The experiences of those who are caring for an aging spouse or partner

What we found is that the caregiving burden increases as aging family members get to be 75 and older. And, among Americans with an aging parent, spouse or partner, those with lower incomes are much more likely to be caregivers than those with middle and upper incomes.