Caregivers Are in Crisis — And It’s Worse Depending on Where You Live
Why this matters for you, your loved ones, and our mission at Visits.Care
Every day at Visits.Care, we see firsthand the dedication, exhaustion, and love that caregivers pour into their work. So when new national data reveals that caregivers across the U.S. are in crisis, it doesn’t surprise us - but it should absolutely concern all of us.
A recent USA TODAY report highlights something most families never realize:
The challenges caregivers face aren’t the same everywhere.
They depend heavily on the state you live in.
Behind closed doors and kitchen tables, millions of families are struggling - and some states offer support systems, while others leave caregivers almost entirely on their own.
What the New Data Shows
Recent numbers from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving paint a striking picture:
63 million Americans are now providing unpaid care for a loved one - almost 1 in 4 adults.
In some states, one-third of all adults are caregivers.
The financial strain varies wildly: in some regions, nearly 60% of caregivers are under severe financial pressure.
Only a small percentage get paid support - and in many states, it’s fewer than 1 in 10.
These gaps affect everything: stress, burnout, physical health, emotional well-being, and even a caregiver’s ability to stay employed.
As someone who has both given care and needed it myself, I can tell you - this isn’t an abstract policy issue.
It’s real life. It’s families making impossible decisions every day.
Why This Crisis Is Growing
Several forces are colliding all at once:
An aging population
People are living longer with chronic conditions, increasing the need for day-to-day support.
Shrinking caregiving networks
Families are smaller. More adults work full-time. Fewer hands are available.
Financial pressure
Unpaid caregivers often lose income, stall careers, or leave jobs entirely.
Emotional and physical burnout
The toll of caring for someone you love is deep - especially without training or support.
This is what’s fueling the crisis. And every state handles it differently.
A Personal Note
At Visits.Care, caregiving isn’t just a service we provide - it’s something we live.
Some of our team members, myself included, have been caregivers in our own families. We know the emotional highs and the exhausting lows. We understand how isolating it can feel, especially when there’s no map, no training, and no clear support system.
That’s why this crisis feels personal.
Because it is.
What Needs to Change - and How We’re Helping
The data makes one thing clear: caregivers deserve better.
To truly address this crisis, we need:
Recognition of caregivers as a vital workforce, not invisible labor.
More state-level support, including paid leave, respite programs, and flexible home-care options.
Financial relief, such as caregiver stipends and tax credits.
Better training, so caregivers feel confident instead of overwhelmed.
Mental-health support and respite resources to prevent burnout.
At Visits.Care, we’re committed to being part of that change.
Here’s what we’re building toward:
Training that empowers caregivers, not just instructs them.
Support for family caregivers, helping them navigate tough decisions with confidence.
Caregiving models that treat the family as part of the team, not an afterthought.
A community of compassion, where nobody feels like they’re doing this alone.
Whether you’re caring for a parent, a partner, a child, or a neighbor - you deserve respect, support, and resources.
The Bottom Line
Caregiving is love in action.
It’s also an enormous responsibility - one that varies drastically depending on where you live and what support your state offers.
As these national numbers continue to climb, we need to pay attention.
We need to speak up.
We need to push for better systems that honor the people doing the hardest work in our communities.
And at Visits.Care, we promise to keep showing up - with compassion, dignity, and the belief that caregivers deserve to be cared for, too.