Across the United States, millions of people are caring for elderly and disabled relatives. Estimates of exactly how many caregivers there are vary, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting 37.1 million people offer unpaid eldercare, while Johns Hopkins estimated the number at closer to 24.1 million in 2022, up from 18.2 million in 2011.
Regardless of the specific number, these caregivers are devoting many hours — an estimated 36 billion of them per year — to helping loved ones cope with the effects of aging, as well as with serious conditions ranging from dementia to mobility issues and beyond. Many of these caregivers are still working themselves, have children under 18 at home, and are compromising their own retirement security to offer aid.
