---
title: "As population ages, more Americans becoming caregivers"
description: "Four in 10 U.S. adults are caring for a loved one with significant health issues."
date: "2013-07-18"
authors:
  - name: "Drew DeSilver"
    job_title: "Senior Writer/Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/drew-desilver/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/07/18/as-population-ages-more-americans-becoming-caregivers/"
---

# As population ages, more Americans becoming caregivers

More Americans, regardless of experience or specialized knowledge, are finding themselves thrust into the role of caregivers. In [a recent Pew Research survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Reports/2013/Family-Caregivers/Summary-of-Findings/Overview.aspx), 36% of U.S. adults said they provided unpaid care to an adult relative or friend in the past year, up from 27% in 2010. Eight percent said they provided unpaid care to a child living with health challenges or disabilities, up from 5% in 2010. All told, 39% of U.S. adults are caregivers, up from 30% in 2010.

![](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Reports/2013/Family-Caregivers/Summary-of-Findings/~/media/9AD65C1D1E1F4B76A51D46FE95DD7A5F.png?w=530&h=500&as=1)

Caregiving encompasses everything from buying someone groceries and managing their finances to helping them with bathing, dressing and other tasks of daily life. But a [2012 survey](http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-10-2012/home-alone-family-caregivers-providing-complex-chronic-care.html) by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the United Hospital Fund found that in recent years, the role of family caregivers "has dramatically expanded to include performing medical/nursing tasks of the kind and complexity once only provided in hospitals."

In fact, nearly half (46%) of family caregivers reported performing such medical/nursing tasks, three-quarters of those said their tasks included giving injections, administering intravenous fluids or otherwise managing medications.

The Pew Research study found similar results, with 39% of caregivers saying they managed medications. Of that group, 18% said they used online or mobile tools, such as websites or apps, to manage medications, which translates to 7% of all caregivers. College graduates were the most likely group to use technology to track medications. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/Reports/2013/Family-Caregivers/Part-1/Medication-management.aspx)