Family caregivers are becoming a larger part of the population in the United States. As more Americans live into their 70s, 80s and beyond, family members are increasingly stepping in to help aging loved ones. A February 2026 Pew Research Center study found that 10% of U.S. adults care for a parent age 65 or older. Among adults who have a parent age 65 or older, 24% consider themselves caregivers.
The trend is even broader when looking at caregiving overall. AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving reported in 2025 that 59 million Americans—nearly one in four adults—provide ongoing care for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. The report also found that more than 40% of family caregivers provide high-intensity care, showing that today’s caregivers are often taking on significant responsibilities.
Together, these reports paint a picture of a growing need for caregiver support. For families who want an older loved one to remain at home, it will become increasingly important to have the right tools to provide them proper care. Let’s look deeper at family caregiving, and then discuss how medical supply companies like Soundview can help provide that high-quality care.
Growing Responsibilities of Family Caregivers
Caregiving often starts gradually. An adult child may initially help a parent with groceries, transportation or household chores. As that parent’s needs change, however, the caregiver can find themselves taking on much more. Pew found that while only 16% of adults are caregivers for a parent aged 65 to 74, that number increased to 31% of adults with a parent age 75 or older.Â
The most common responsibilities involve everyday activities. 52% of caregivers for aging parents regularly help with errands, housework or home repairs, while 42% help manage health care and 39% help manage finances. Overall, 68% of caregivers for aging parents regularly help with at least one of these major tasks.
Health-care responsibilities can be particularly demanding. A caregiver may have to keep track of appointments, medications, treatment instructions and communication between different providers. The AARP report found that more than 40% of family caregivers provide high-intensity care, and many caregivers perform complex tasks such as administering injections or managing medical equipment. Yet only 22% report receiving training for complex caregiving tasks.
This lack of preparation can make caregiving especially difficult for families. People often enter the role unexpectedly, without training or experience, and have to learn how to manage new responsibilities while continuing to work and maintain their own households.
How Does This Impact Caregivers?
Caregiving can strengthen family relationships, but it can also create significant personal costs. Pew found that 56% of people who regularly help an aging parent say caregiving has had a positive effect on their relationship with that parent. At the same time, caregivers report negative effects in several other areas of their lives.
For example, 39% say caregiving has negatively affected their emotional well-being, compared with 28% who report a positive effect. Another 33% say it has negatively affected their physical health. These challenges can come from the combination of emotional stress, physical demands and the constant responsibility of being available for another person.
The financial impact can be just as serious. 32% of caregivers for aging parents say caregiving has negatively affected their financial situation. Caregivers may have to cut back their hours, miss work, turn down opportunities or spend their own money on transportation, supplies and other expenses. AARP found that around 70% of caregivers are employed, requiring them to constantly juggle their care and career responsibilities.
What Does the Future of Caregiving Look Like?
The number of Americans providing care is likely to remain significant as the population ages. AARP’s 2025 report found that the number of family caregivers has reached 63 million, an increase of about 20 million since 2015. Nearly one-third of caregivers are also raising children, meaning many are balancing care for an older adult with responsibilities at home.
The future of caregiving will therefore require more than simply encouraging families to do more. Caregivers will need access to training, respite services, workplace flexibility, financial assistance and community-based resources. Pew found broad public support for these types of policies: 78% of Americans favor tax credits to help pay for caregiving, while 71% support government funding for short-term care that provides family caregivers with a break.
Aging in place will also remain an important consideration. Pew recently found that 93% of adults age 65 and older say they currently live in their own home or apartment. Helping people remain at home safely will require support not only for older adults, but also for the caregivers responsible for helping them manage daily life.
That means the future of caregiving will likely depend on a broader network of support, including family members, professional caregivers, health-care providers, community organizations and businesses that provide products and services for aging at home.
How Can Soundview Help Family Caregivers?
For family caregivers, one of the biggest challenges can be figuring out which products are appropriate for an aging loved one’s changing needs. Soundview offers guidance to help caregivers explore product options, along with samples that allow seniors and caregivers to evaluate comfort and fit before committing to certain products. This can be particularly helpful when choosing incontinence products, where finding the appropriate size, absorbency and fit can make a significant difference in comfort and daily care.
Soundview also helps simplify the logistics of getting those supplies. Family caregivers can order by phone, receive assistance with selecting and restocking products, and have supplies delivered directly to the home. Soundview also offers reorder reminder services designed to help families avoid running out of essential supplies. For caregivers already balancing work, family responsibilities and appointments, reducing the need for additional shopping trips can make a meaningful difference.
Soundview’s support extends to professional caregivers as well. The company works with assisted living facilities, adult family homes and other senior-care organizations, providing products and consultative services designed around resident needs and caregiver workflows. Its services include facility consultations, product recommendations, ordering support and ongoing assistance for caregivers, administrators and procurement teams.
For caregivers trying to help an older adult remain at home, that combination of product access and personal support can be especially valuable. Soundview Medical Supply is designed to help make the supply side of caregiving simpler, whether someone is caring for a parent at home, managing their own care or providing professional support to residents in a senior-care setting.
Ultimately, the right medical supply company should do more than ship a box of products. Caregivers need a supplier that is responsive, knowledgeable and able to help them navigate changing needs. Soundview’s caregiver-focused approach, home delivery, product samples, ordering assistance and insurance coordination are all designed to make that process easier.
Conclusion
The research from Pew and AARP makes clear that caregiving is already a major part of American life. Millions of people are helping aging parents, spouses and other loved ones, often while working, raising families and managing their own health and finances. The responsibilities can be rewarding, but they can also create significant emotional, physical and financial challenges.
Medical supply companies are one important part of that solution. By giving family and professional caregivers access to appropriate equipment, supplies and practical guidance, they can help make daily care safer, easier and more sustainable. As America’s population continues to age, supporting caregivers will become just as important as supporting the people receiving care.