Invisible caregiving? Survey uncovers quiet support for seniors

Half of Americans don’t see themselves a “caregiver,” but caller investigation revealed that immoderate person already assumed nan role.

That’s according to a study of 2,000 Americans, including 1,000 who are caring for (or person cared for) a senior.

For those who person not “officially” cared for a senior, 53% didn’t see themselves a caregiver — contempt taking connected galore caregiving responsibilities.

These respondents still do errands for a elder successful their life (21%) and supply affectional and intelligence support (18%) for this older person.

Others besides make a constituent to sojourn pinch them connected a regular ground (16%), cleanable their home (16%) and supply proscription (14%).

Conducted by Talker Research connected behalf of Comfort Keepers for nan National Day of Joy, nan study revealed each these activities fresh into respondents’ meaning of “caregiving.”

When asked what caregiving means, 58% of respondents said, simply, being disposable astatine each times for nan personification being taken attraction of.

Less important arsenic a meaning were — giving attraction arsenic an business (47%), surviving successful nan location pinch nan elder (33%) aliases really being paid (25%) for nan work.

And pinch this wide meaning for caregiving, 74% of respondents judge everyone will, astatine immoderate point, go a caregiver for a elder who is incapable to meet their ain needs.

“Millions of Americans are caregivers successful each but name, softly supporting aging loved ones without recognizing nan basal domiciled they’re already playing,” said Saudia Gajadhar, main happiness serviceman astatine Comfort Keepers. “Our investigation shows that galore group don’t place arsenic caregivers, moreover arsenic they supply meaningful support, pinch galore expecting to measurement into that domiciled successful nan future. At Comfort Keepers, we purpose to radiance a ray connected nan joyousness and intent that caregiving brings to some those who springiness attraction and those who person it.”

While caregiving comes pinch challenges, it’s besides thing for group to look guardant to: three-quarters (74%) of those who person been a caregiver said it’s 1 of nan astir rewarding chapters of their life.

Ninety-one percent of caregivers said it was an opportunity to enslaved pinch nan elder they were spending clip with, pinch 1 sharing: “It’s for illustration having different relative. You attraction for this personification for truthful agelong and they adopt you.”

Through caregiving, respondents learned, “there is simply a friend successful anyone, each you request is clip to cognize them.” And, “that it is imaginable to beryllium resilient moreover erstwhile nan cards are stacked against you.”

Caregivers besides learned immoderate astonishing facts astir nan group they were caring for.

Respondents said nan personification they attraction for had knowledgeable much adversity than they thought (33%) and is funnier than nan caregiver antecedently thought (33%).

Caregivers besides learned astir passions and values nan personification they were caring for had (30%), and realized nan personification they were caring for lived a much wild, adventurous life than nan caregiver ever knew (26%).

They shared discoveries that nan elder they took attraction of dated a celebrity, 1 said 7 languages and different was a champion ballroom dancer. 

One responsive learned nan personification they were caring for was friends pinch Martin Luther King, while different said nan personification they cared for was successful WWII arsenic a combatant aviator and sewage changeable down — and a 3rd shared “they had a concealed double life.”

“Some consciousness that caregiving tin beryllium a burden, but astir caregivers telephone it a blessing and an opportunity to uncover life’s metallic linings specified arsenic connecting pinch their loved one, learning family stories, uncovering intent and emotion joy,” said Sherri Snelling, gerontologist, writer and spokesperson for Comfort Keepers. “Our study shows that erstwhile group attraction for aging loved ones, they are giving support but they are besides getting thing backmost – heavy affectional rewards, individual growth, and stronger bonds pinch older loved ones.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 1,000 wide organization Americans and 1,000 respondents who are caregivers to a senior/have been a caregiver to a elder successful nan past (either paid aliases unpaid and not including wide parenting responsibilities arsenic caregiving). The study was commissioned by Comfort Keepers and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt April 25–May 1, 2025.