In May 2022, the AARP Bulletin published a comprehensive report on the challenging state of family caregiving and the key areas that required more attention to ease the massive burden on those who must provide regular aid to ­aging loved ones. The situation remains dire: By 2030, one-fifth of the U.S. population will be at least 65, meaning that more people than ever will need daily assistance of some sort. [AARP Bulletin]

Illustration by Nazario Graziano 

But something noteworthy has happened since our report of 18 months ago: progress. There are signs of increasing awareness of the need to support caregivers, and a variety of state, local and federal government initiatives are being implemented.

“Almost everyone is either going to be a caregiver or will need care at some point in their life,” says Nancy LeaMond, AARP chief advocacy and engagement officer. “I think so many more decision-makers are experiencing that personally and are seeing it affect many of their constituents.”

A 2023 AARP report titled “Valuing the Invaluable” finds family caregivers provide an average of 18 hours of unpaid care per week, a commitment often overlooked by policymakers, until now. “Caregiving really crosses every demographic. It’s every race, every religion, it’s every income bracket,” LeaMond says. “We’re hearing across the political spectrum, across the states, ‘How do we work on these issues? What are some of the options for how we can move forward?’ And I think that’s particularly exciting.”

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