Family caregiving is one of the hardest jobs a person can take on. Every day, millions of people step into the role of caregiver for a parent, spouse, child, sibling or other loved one. They manage appointments, coordinate care, keep track of medications, assist with daily activities, provide emotional support and so much more. They do it out of love, a sense of responsibility and a desire to help someone they care about live a healthier, more comfortable life.
And often, they do it without pay, without formal training and with very little recognition.
Approximately 63 million Americans provide ongoing care to an adult or child with complex health needs. That’s as many people as the entire states of Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas.
The 2025 Caregiving in the U.S. report highlights the emotional toll of caregiving: 64% of caregivers experience emotional stress and nearly one in four feel alone. But 51% say caregiving gives them a sense of purpose.
Caregiving can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly demanding.
Love can mean taking responsibility
Why do people take on such a challenging role? For many, the answer is simple: they have no other choice. Family caregivers frequently step into their role due to a lack of financial, institutional and community resources.
But for many, it also comes down to giving back to someone who once cared for them. They love this person and feel a duty to them. They want to keep their loved one safe and comfortable at home and also feel a responsibility to be there when someone needs them most.
Caregiving can bring a tremendous sense of purpose, pride, connection and fulfillment. But those positive feelings often co-exist with worry, exhaustion, guilt, frustration and loneliness. Caregivers often say they struggle to balance their responsibilities with careers, parenting, relationships and their own health.
Over time, the demands can become overwhelming. And because caregiving often happens behind closed doors, the sacrifices can go unnoticed by everyone except the person doing the work.
Family caregivers need care and support too
The good news is that caregivers don’t have to navigate this journey alone. There are resources available to help ease the burden, provide temporary relief and connect families with financial and community support.
Here are a few places to start:
- Respite care: The Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) can connect caregivers with local Area Agencies on Aging that can help find respite care, adult day programs, support groups and other services. The ARCH National Respite Network can be another resource for finding temporary care.
- Financial assistance: Some states offer Medicaid programs that may compensate eligible family members for caregiving. USA.gov’s caregiver assistance guide has a good explanation of options, including Medicaid self-directed programs, paid family leave and veterans’ benefits.
- Caregiver support and education: The Administration for Community Living’s National Family Caregiver Support Program can offer access to counseling, caregiver training, support groups, respite care and supplemental services through participating state and local programs.
- Veteran caregiver support: The VA Caregiver Support Program can offer eligible caregiver education, counseling, respite care and, for qualifying caregivers, financial assistance.
Technology can never replace human care, but it can help make certain caregiving responsibilities more manageable.
Managing medications is a vital and often stressful part of caring for a loved one. Keeping track of multiple prescriptions, schedules and doses can add another layer of responsibility to already busy days.
That’s why Ōmcare is committed to helping families with solutions that support medication adherence. The Ōmcare Home Health Hub simplifies medication routines, provides added support and gives caregivers greater peace of mind. It’s one more way technology can help support the people who do so much for others.
Giving thanks
Family caregivers don’t necessarily ask for applause or recognition. They show up because someone they love needs them. Caregivers deserve to know their efforts matter and need time to rest, resources to help and support that acknowledges the enormous responsibility they carry.
This Family Caregivers Month, do more than say thank you. Check in on a caregiver, offer to help with an errand, give them a much-needed break or simply remind them that they’re not alone.
To every family caregiver: Thank you for all that you do. You spend so much time caring for others and this month, we celebrate you.