National Family Caregivers Month
Understanding Both Sides of Care
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time set aside to recognize the 63 million Americans who care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. If those numbers seem staggering, they should. The number of family caregivers has increased by nearly 50% since 2015.
This isn’t an abstract policy issue. It’s a reality that touches most families, whether you’re the one providing care or the one receiving it. Both experiences come with challenges that deserve honest discussion.
The 2025 theme, “Plug-in to Care,” focuses on connecting caregivers to support networks, educational resources, and tools that can make the caregiving journey less overwhelming and more supported. Behind that theme lies a pressing need: most caregivers take on complex responsibilities with minimal preparation or support.
The Senior’s Perspective
For older adults who need assistance, accepting help represents a profound shift in identity and independence.
After decades of self-sufficiency, making your own decisions, and managing your own household, suddenly someone else is involved in your daily routine. Someone reminds you about medications. Someone expresses concern about tasks you’ve performed for years. Someone suggests it might be time to stop driving.
The need for help is often real and necessary. But that doesn’t make it easier to accept. Each offer of assistance can feel like a reminder of diminishing capabilities, a shift from being the caregiver to being cared for.
Dignity matters deeply to older adults. Research shows that maintaining autonomy and control over one’s life remains central to well-being, even when physical or cognitive abilities decline. The challenge becomes accepting necessary support while preserving the sense of self that comes from making choices and contributing meaningfully to family life.
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The Weight Caregivers Carry
Family caregivers provide an average of 27 hours of care per week. Nearly one in four caregivers provides over 40 hours weekly, equivalent to a full-time job. Many do this while working, raising children, or managing their own health concerns.
The statistics on caregiver stress paint a concerning picture. Half of all caregivers report increased emotional stress, while more than a third experience physical health impacts. Perhaps most telling: 39% of caregivers say they rarely or never feel relaxed.
Depression affects between 40% and 70% of family caregivers. Women experience higher stress levels than men, and younger caregivers under 35 face particular challenges with anxiety. Nearly 29% of caregivers are simultaneously raising children, caught between the needs of two generations.
The financial burden adds another layer of difficulty. Eighty percent of caregivers pay out of pocket for caregiving expenses, averaging $7,200 annually. That represents 25% of income for many families.
National Resources and Support Networks
Caregivers don’t need to navigate this journey alone. Several national organizations provide free, vetted resources specifically designed to support family caregivers.
The Caregiver Action Network leads the National Family Caregivers Month observance and maintains CaregiverAction.org, which offers condition-specific guides, financial and legal tools, and connections to peer support networks. Their site provides resources organized by health condition, making it easier to find relevant information for your specific caregiving situation.
The National Alliance for Caregiving hosts the annual Caregiver Nation Summit, bringing together experts and caregivers to share strategies and build community. They also publish research and resources to help implement the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers through the Caregiver Nation Coalition.
AARP offers extensive caregiver resources through their website, including the “Prepare to Care” planning guide, caregiver support groups, and their Family Caregiving site with practical advice on everything from navigating healthcare to managing finances. They also provide free webinars and screenings throughout November.
Education and Training Programs
Only 11% of caregivers receive training for daily living assistance, despite the complex tasks they perform. Free educational resources can help fill this gap.
The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program offers “Better Caregiving For All,” a monthly webinar series covering dementia care techniques and strategies. These sessions provide practical skills from dementia care experts at no cost.
The American Society on Aging hosts webinars on caregiver wellbeing with continuing education credits available for professionals, but open to all caregivers. Topics range from self-care strategies to specific caregiving techniques.
The National Council on Aging provides guides on planning and decision-making for Alzheimer’s care, offering families roadmaps for navigating complex medical and legal decisions. Their resources help caregivers understand what to expect and how to prepare.
Financial and Legal Support
The financial strain of caregiving affects most families, but assistance programs exist that many caregivers don’t know about.
Over 11 million family caregivers now receive some compensation through caregiver payment programs, which vary by state. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn about programs in your area.
Tax credits for caregiving expenses can provide significant relief. The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit may apply to adult dependents, and several states offer additional tax benefits for family caregivers. FAIR Health provides actionable tools with healthcare cost information to help caregivers plan and budget.
Legal planning resources help caregivers navigate powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and other essential documents. The Caregiver Action Network maintains a list of financial and legal tools specifically designed for family caregivers.
Respite Care Options
Caregiver burnout is preventable when caregivers take regular breaks. Respite care provides temporary relief, allowing caregivers to recharge.
Local Area Agencies on Aging coordinate respite services, including in-home care, adult day programs, and short-term residential stays. The National Respite Network and Resource Center maintains a searchable database of respite providers by location.
Many memory care communities, like Anthem Memory Care, provide respite care specifically for families caring for loved ones with dementia, giving caregivers time to attend to their own needs while ensuring their loved one receives specialized care.
Technology Solutions That Help
Technology, when thoughtfully applied, addresses specific challenges for both seniors and caregivers without replacing human connection.
Gertie is a voice-first AI companion designed for independent older adults who want daily connection without the friction of apps or devices. It supports caregivers by offering gentle check-ins that can surface early changes in mood, cognition, or routine — before small concerns become crises. The team is currently validating with users; join the waitlist at meetgertie.com.
Medication management apps like Medisafe help seniors maintain independence by providing discreet reminders they can manage themselves. For caregivers, these apps offer peace of mind through monitoring capabilities that don’t require daily check-in calls.
Modern fall detection devices have evolved significantly. Wearables like the Lively Mobile Plus automatically detect falls and alert emergency services, allowing seniors to maintain independent living while giving family members assurance that help will arrive if needed.
Smart home technology responds to voice commands, enabling people with arthritis or limited mobility to control their environment independently. Adjusting thermostats, turning off lights, or locking doors become manageable tasks rather than sources of frustration.
Video calling platforms serve purposes beyond conversation. When multiple family members share caregiving responsibilities, video calls during telehealth appointments ensure everyone receives the same information directly from medical providers.
Medical alert systems now extend beyond emergency response. Services like Medical Guardian’s Family Guardian include activity monitoring that alerts family members to unusual patterns before situations become critical.
State and Local Resources
State-level support varies, but most states maintain programs specifically for family caregivers.
State Units on Aging administer programs funded by the National Family Caregiver Support Program, offering information and assistance, counseling, respite care, and supplemental services. Contact your state’s unit to learn what’s available locally.
The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities maintains SupportCaregiving.org, which provides resources for implementing the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers at state and local levels. The site includes toolkits for employers, managed care plans, and community organizations.
Local libraries often host caregiver workshops and maintain collections of caregiving resources. Many libraries provide free access to databases with health and caregiving information.
Faith-based organizations frequently offer volunteer visitor programs, meal delivery, and caregiver support groups. Even if you’re not affiliated with a particular congregation, many welcome community members to their support programs.
Healthcare Team Integration
Involving your loved one’s healthcare providers in care planning improves outcomes and reduces caregiver stress.
The UCSF Family Caregivers Alliance provides a “Resource Guide for Health Care Teams” that caregivers can share with providers, offering tools to better integrate family caregivers into care delivery.
The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care published “Not Just Visitors: Integrating Family Caregivers in Care Delivery and Design,” which outlines how healthcare systems can partner more effectively with family caregivers.
Don’t hesitate to ask your loved one’s doctor about caregiver resources. Many healthcare systems now employ care coordinators or social workers specifically to connect families with support services.
Taking Action This November
National Family Caregivers Month offers an opportunity to connect with support systems that can make caregiving more sustainable.
Start by exploring resources from trusted national organizations like the Caregiver Action Network, which curates condition-specific guides and maintains directories of vetted services. Their website allows you to search by your loved one’s specific health condition to find relevant resources quickly.
Attend a webinar from the Care Connections series or other free educational programs happening throughout November. These sessions provide both practical skills and connection to other caregivers.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn about programs in your area, including respite services, support groups, and potential financial assistance. These agencies serve as central hubs for connecting caregivers to local resources.
If you’re a veteran caregiver, the VA Caregiver Support Program hosts special events, workshops, and connection opportunities throughout November. Contact your local VA facility to find events near you.
The Path Forward
The economic value of unpaid family caregiving equals approximately $600 billion annually. These numbers reflect not just economic impact, but the essential role family caregivers play in our long-term care system.
By 2034, Americans over 65 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in history. The demand for family caregivers will only increase, making support systems more critical than ever.
For seniors navigating the transition to accepting help, early conversations about preferences and priorities can preserve dignity and autonomy. Discussing what matters most helps family members provide care that respects individual values.
For caregivers, connecting with available resources, whether national organizations, local support groups, educational programs, or financial assistance, transforms caregiving from an isolating struggle into a supported journey.
National Family Caregivers Month serves as a reminder that caregiving affects both the person providing care and the person receiving it. Both perspectives matter. Both challenges deserve recognition and support. The 63 million Americans currently navigating these roles are not alone, even when isolation makes it feel that way.
This November offers an opportunity to plug into the networks, resources, and communities designed to support family caregivers. Whether you’re seeking educational programs, financial assistance, peer support, or simply validation that this work matters, resources exist to help you navigate the caregiving journey while preserving well-being for everyone involved.
