A Place for Mom, the nation’s leading senior care advisory platform that has guided millions of families through the aging journey, today released its 2026 State of Caregiving report, an annual study examining how caregivers make decisions, manage ongoing responsibilities, and seek support as their loved ones’ needs change.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, the report emphasizes the sustained commitment and challenge of caregiving, while underlining the relationships between families and their aging loved ones; 87% of caregivers report facing at least one difficult caregiving decision, yet 86% say they would make exactly or mostly the same decisions again.

“Many family caregivers, especially women, feel that being a good daughter or spouse means doing everything themselves,” said Tatyana Zlotsky, CEO of A Place for Mom. “But as care needs grow, that responsibility can bring stress, anxiety, and financial strain, making it harder to enjoy their time together. Getting help isn’t failing someone you love. It’s making sure they get the care they need. Our job is to help families get unstuck, understand their options, and take that next step with confidence.”

Caregivers Navigate Difficult Decisions About Safety and Support

Caregiving frequently requires families to make decisions without clear answers at an emotional time. The most commonly selected challenge, cited by 42% of caregivers, is balancing the care recipient’s wishes with safety. Other difficult decisions include knowing when a loved one needs more help with daily life, cited by 34%, and asking family or friends to help, cited by 33%. Yet difficulty does not mean caregivers believe they made the wrong choices. 86% say they would make exactly or mostly the same decisions again, including 45% who would make exactly the same decisions. The findings point to the value of guidance that helps caregivers weigh changing needs and care options while respecting older adults’ preferences. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers (64%) ideally want to provide all their loved one’s care themselves, with support from friends or family as needed. On the other hand, 40% find it difficult to discuss alternative care options with their loved one.

Caregivers Wish They Had More Information Earlier

Despite the confidence many caregivers have in their decisions, 85% say there is at least one topic they wish they had known more about earlier. The most common information gaps involved what to expect as a loved one’s needs changed (33%) and what insurance or benefits would cover (32%). Only 20% felt completely prepared when they began providing care, while 68% felt completely or mostly prepared. The share who felt completely prepared declined from 26% in 2025 to 20% in 2026, further underlining that earlier guidance should address changing needs, benefits, and sources of trustworthy help.

Home Care Draws Growing Interest

Among caregivers whose care recipient does not live in a senior living community, 58% describe in-home care as a great option, up from 42% in 2025. Among caregivers who provide care most often in their own home or another family member’s home, 52% cite a familiar environment as a reason for that arrangement, while 45% cite their loved one’s preference and 38% cite cost.

Financial and Emotional Strain Remain Widespread

Two-thirds of caregivers (66%) report significant or slight financial strain as they manage the long-term commitment of caregiving alongside work and other responsibilities. Caregivers experiencing financial strain rely on various coping methods, such as reducing discretionary spending (43%), using personal savings or emergency funds (34%), and taking on credit card debt (29%).

Caregivers provide an average of 23.1 hours of care each week, and 75% have been providing care for one year or longer. 72% of caregivers experience stress or anxiety at least monthly, and 43% say their social life has worsened since caregiving began. The share reporting worsening mental health since caregiving began rose from 33% in 2025 to 40% in 2026. Meanwhile, the share of caregivers that make time for self-care at least weekly increased from 71% to 77%. However, caregiving can also strengthen bonds: 65% say their relationship with their loved one has improved, and 41% say relationships with other family members have improved. Caregiving can take a mental health toll while also strengthening family bonds, underscoring the need to support caregivers’ well-being alongside their commitment to their loved ones.

“Honoring a loved one’s wishes can become harder when those wishes no longer match the care they need,” added Zlotsky. “From my own caregiving experience, I know how difficult it can be to ask for help. Talking early about safety, finances, and changing needs gives families time to plan together. With the right support, caregivers can have more room to be a daughter, son, or spouse again — and enjoy time with someone they love.”

Caregivers See Room for More Government and Workplace Support

Few caregivers agree that the government is doing enough to support them. 18% agree that the federal government is doing enough (down from 29% in 2025), 18% agree about their state government (28% in 2025), and 21% agree about their local government (28% in 2025).

Caregiving also naturally affects work. 32% of caregivers have less time to focus on work, and 8% have had to quit a job since becoming a caregiver. Among caregivers employed for wages, 22% say their employer offers no caregiving support, while 10% don’t know what’s offered. This points to the need for clearer information about existing workplace and public support, and attention to where caregivers’ needs aren’t being met.

Across these findings, supporting an older adult also means supporting the family caregivers alongside them. Families need guidance to understand changing needs, weigh care options, and find support that can work for the whole family. Needing more help does not diminish a caregiver’s commitment: it can help make care sustainable.

To read the full 2026 State of Caregiving Report, visit aplaceformom.com/senior-living-data/state-of-caregiving.

Methodology

This report is based on an online quantitative survey commissioned by A Place for Mom and conducted by Morning Light Strategy in September 2026. The study included 1,013 nonprofessional caregivers ages 40–75 across the United States who provide care for at least one adult age 55 or older. Building on the 2024 and 2025 reports, the 2026 study introduced new questions about difficult caregiving decisions and information caregivers wish they had known earlier. Respondents included people caring for family members or friends, whether unpaid or receiving compensation. Professional caregivers were excluded. Findings reflect respondents’ self-reported experiences, opinions, and behaviors.

About A Place for Mom

A Place for Mom is the leading platform that guides families through every stage of the aging journey. We simplify the search for senior care by offering free, personalized support — and when families are ready, we refer them to partners from our network of over 15,000 senior living communities and home care agencies. Our mission is to guide caregivers and their loved ones to a confident place, so families can focus on what matters most: their love for each other.

A Place for Mom: Where love finds its place. For more information, please visit aplaceformom.com.

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