August 26, 2026
By: Arielle Galinsky, Foundation for Social Connection Fellow and Jason Resendez, National Alliance for Caregiving President & CEO
A daughter on hold with her father’s insurance company, the same tinny, obnoxious jingle on loop as she attempts to understand why his medication was denied. A 23-year-old sitting across from her grandfather at the dinner table, hopefully searching his face for signs of recognition that no longer flick on. A husband who becomes a full-time caregiver for his wife after an unexpected stroke, left in deafening silence as the “how are you?” texts grow less frequent, and the social gathering invites cease.
For so many Americans, this scene is all too familiar. Millions of individuals, of all ages, become caregivers not by choice, nor with a community, but out of love and all by themselves.
A recent report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP shows that nearly 63 million Americans serve as family caregivers, providing consistent care for older adults, people with a serious illness, or individuals with disabilities. The demand for family care is on the rise, with a 20 million increase in the number of family caregivers since 2015. And while there is significant emphasis on the economic impact and workforce shortage aspects of caregiving, a lurking hidden crisis goes unnoticed: social disconnection.
Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers report feeling socially isolated, an increase since 2020, according to NAC and AARP. One study found that loneliness was the most important predictor of a lower quality of life among caregivers.
The alarming effects of social isolation and loneliness are well documented, to the point that organizations like the Foundation for Social Connection were created to address their profound impact across the lifespan. The adage that social isolation has an impact on par with smoking 15 cigarettes a day is repeated ad nauseam. Research demonstrates that insufficient social connection is correlated with poorer health outcomes, including a 29% heightened risk of heart disease and a 32% amplified risk of stroke.
For older adults and individuals with disabilities who are receiving care support, maintaining social connectedness is deeply important to overall physical and mental well-being. In the same vein, for those who are caring for them, ensuring opportunities to remain socially connected is critical to ensure their own well-being and the care being provided. In fact, it is documented that sentiments of “loneliness are associated with strong feelings of stress and strain, as well as decreased health.” In 2020, 21% of caregivers reported feeling alone.
There are many reasons why informal caregivers are at greater risk of disconnection.
For one thing, caregiving responsibilities take up time that might have been spent on social gatherings, work or volunteer engagements, and hobbies. Caregivers spend an average of 27 hours a week providing care to others, with nearly a quarter of the 63 million individuals providing 40+ hours of care each week. With a full workweek of caregiving responsibilities, many caregivers have less space or capacity for friendship and community, nor do they have someone to trade off responsibilities with. A Georgetown Health Policy report found that nearly a third (31%) of caregivers report having less free time or a limited social life due to caregiving duties.
Caregiving can also take a huge financial toll. Research from AARP shows that the average family caregiver in the United States spends $7,200 annually out of pocket to cover caregiving expenses. This additional, and oftentimes unplanned, financial expense can both detract from spending money on social opportunities and require additional hours to be dedicated to paid work.
And for others, friends merely drift away. All the empathy in the world, and it is still sometimes a challenge to put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand the toll and stress that caregiving might bring. Not to mention, caregiving duties can last years, if not decades, and prior strong friendships might slowly fade as time and distance seep in.
This is not to say that caregiving does not include meaningful moments of connection, especially between the caregiver and the person they’re caring for. But it is a reality check that the 63 million caregivers in the United States need support, and maintaining social connection opportunities should be at the very top of the priority list.
There are already promising models offered throughout the country, with many made possible through community-based and state services as well as the Administration for Community Living’s National Family Caregiver Support Program.
Caregiver support groups, offered both online and in-person, provide a space to discuss the stressors, meaningful moments, and difficulties of caregiving with others who understand it firsthand.
Respite care, offered through informal in-home services or adult day center formats, allows caregivers a moment of relief in their day, which might mean time to pursue hobbies, connect with friends and family, or go to work in person. This, in turn, allows the caregiver to rest and recharge, bettering their ability to serve in their role.
Memory cafes have also become popular in cities across the country, bringing together individuals with cognitive challenges and their caregivers for meaningful social connections. Hosted at Area Agencies on Aging, coffee shops, museums, and senior centers, memory cafes are meaningful places where caregivers, and often those they care for, can gather with a larger community.
While programs like these do exist, there is frequently a lack of knowledge about program offerings, as well as spotty availability based on geographic location. As the demographic in the US continues to rise, and the demand for family caregivers will continue to rise with it, we must invest in family caregivers, who are serving as the backbone of the US care system. To do so, we must invest in programs that support family caregivers’ physical, emotional, and, critically, social health.