Look around and you’re bound to see a lot of caregivers. In the U.S., 1 in 4 adults are family caregivers. They may be caring for elderly parents, a sick spouse or disabled child.

Caregiving in the United States is on the rise. According to AARP, 63 million adults, or one-quarter of all adults in America, act as a caregiver for an adult or for a child with a medical condition or disability. That’s an almost 45 percent increase over the last decade.

Being a caregiver can be stressful and demanding. It often leads to caregiver burnout — a feeling of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. Poor health, depression and anxiety are all symptoms of burnout. To cope with the pressures, caregivers may turn to smoking, alcohol or other unhealthy behaviors.

If you’re a caregiver, it’s important to understand how it can impact you and what you may need to do to take better care of yourself.

Who Are Caregivers?

The Mayo Clinic describes caregivers as any adult who helps take care of another person, a spouse or partner, aging family member or friend, or a child with a disability. Often caregivers are employed full-time while also trying to balance the demands of caring for others. 

Many caregivers are part of what is called the “sandwich generation.”  That refers to people, typically in their 40s through early 60’s, who are caring for older parents or family members, and caring for their own children, while also working full-time. 

How Does Being a Caregiver Impact You?

While there are paid caregivers, increasing costs of living and care have led to more people acting as unpaid caregivers themselves instead of being able to hire help. Caregivers often wind up feeling stretched thin, trying to balance their life, work and caregiving responsibilities.

While caregivers are trying to manage these responsibilities, they’re also often dealing with increased financial strain and work stress. Given the heavy burden, it’s no surprise that 1 in 5 caregivers report poor health.  And many have high levels of stress,  and that stress gets worse when they don’t feel they have enough support or even know where to ask for help.

Look for Signs of Burnout

Caregivers may feel that there just isn’t enough time to take care of themselves. Thinking about self-care can feel like adding yet another “thing to do” to their ever-growing list. 

But without support and self-care, caregivers are at higher risk for mental and physical health problems. They can be at higher risk for depression and anxiety and other health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes.

If you’re getting burned out, it’s important to get help. Some signs of caregiver burnout include:

• Feeling burdened or worrying all the time.
• Feeling tired often.
• Sleeping too much or not enough.
• Unexpectedly gaining or losing weight.
• Becoming easily frustrated or angry.
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.
• Feeling sad.
• Having frequent headaches or other pains or health problems.
• Misusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription medicines.
• Missing your own medical appointments.

Getting Help and Support

Are you or someone you know caregiving? Many people have heard that to care for others, you need to care for yourself first. But for many caregivers, that’s easier said than done.

It’s important to know that it’s okay to look for support and ask for help for yourself, too. Caregiving is hard. Being a caregiver for loved ones can feel good and have benefits. But it can also be emotionally, physically, mentally and financially draining at times. It’s okay to accept help.

If you’re not sure where to start looking for support, here are some suggestions from the Mayo Clinic:

• Join a local or online peer support group of other caregivers. Connecting and sharing with others going through similar experiences can help with stress and frustration.
• Short-term care, called respite care, can give caregivers a break. This care can be provided by a person or facility you pay for or a volunteer family member or friend.
• Seek social support through local community centers, faith-based organizations, or recreational centers or groups.
• Focus on what you can do. Try to identify small, simple changes that seem manageable and add them to your routine. You might start with small diet improvements or learn a short meditation to try.
• If there are other family members or friends who are willing to help, consider delegating responsibilities to lessen the caregiving load.
• Talk with your doctor or a mental health professional for support. If going in person is hard, try a telehealth visit.
• Consider taking advantage of your company’s EAP services and FMLA benefits.
• Some local organizations, like your local Area Agency on Aging, may also have resources to help with the financial burden of caregiving.

For more resources, check out AARP’s care guides  or local caregiving resources.  And the Caregiver Action Network offers the Family Caregiver Toolbox. 

Sources: Caregiver stress: Tips for taking care of yourself,  Mayo Clinic, 2023; Changes in Health Indicators Among Caregivers — United States, 2015–2016 to 2021–2022,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Caregiving in the US 2025,  AARP, 2025; Caregiving in the US Research Report,  AARP, 2025; The Sandwich Generation Feels the Caregiving Crunch,  AARP, 2020; The Sandwich Generation: Balancing Care for Parents and Children,  Caregiver Action Network; National Respite Locator Service,  ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center