It’s Time to Lead: How Aging Service Providers and Health Plans Must Step Up to Support Family Caregivers

The newly released Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving paints a clear and sobering picture: 63 million Americans—nearly 1 in 4 adults—are now providing care to someone with a serious health condition or disability. This represents a 45% increase since 2015 and reflects a caregiving landscape that is larger, more diverse, and more complex than at any time in our nation’s history. 

But one statistic in this report should stop every aging service provider, community-based organization, and health plan in their tracks: 

Family caregivers say their #1 unmet need is training that reduces emotional and physical stress. (Caregiving in the U.S. 2025, Figure 41) 

This is not a small gap. It is a national crisis of preparation affecting caregivers in every community—urban, rural, faith-based, multicultural, and workplace environments. 

And it is a call to action. 

The Training Gap: A System Failing the People It Depends On 

Today’s caregivers are delivering more intensive care than ever before: 

• 27% support someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. 
• Over half perform medical/nursing tasks with little to no training. 
• Many provide care for 5+ years, averaging 27 hours per week. 
• Many experience emotional, physical, and financial decline. 

Despite their critical role, family caregivers often begin this journey alone, untrained, and emotionally overwhelmed. This is where aging service providers must step in. 

Empathy-Based, Compassionate Skill-Building: What Caregivers Actually Need 

 The report makes it clear: caregivers don’t just need more information—they need practical, emotionally grounding training that: 

• Builds empathy 
• Strengthens compassionate responses 
• Teaches simple, effective skills 
• Reduces isolation and stress 
• Supports caregiver well-being 

This training is human-centered, experience-driven, and focused on emotional resilience and confidence building. 

Aging Service Providers and Health Plans Must Lead the Way 

Aging service providers have a responsibility—and an opportunity—to close the training gap by: 

1. Bringing high-impact education into community settings.
2. Investing in programs that deliver measurable caregiver stress reduction.
3. Prioritizing empathy and emotional resilience.
4. Strengthening cross-sector partnerships.
5. Making caregiver education a core service.

A High-Return Strategy for Aging Service Providers and Health Plans 

 Organizations that invest in experiential, empathy-based caregiver training see: 

- Higher caregiver confidence 

- Reduced stress 

- Stronger community relationships 

- Enhanced alignment with dementia-friendly initiatives 

- Scaled community impact 

Conclusion: It’s Time to Step Up 

Caregiving is becoming more complex and more common. Aging service providers must champion caregiver education—putting empathy, practical tools, and emotional resilience at the center of their support strategy. 

Download AGE-u-cate's Dementia Live White Paper to learn more on how aging services providers can champion caregiver education.