Only 11% of Family Caregivers Receive Formal Training, Survey Says

WASHINGTON—Only 11% of family caregivers have received medical training to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), yet more caregivers than ever are helping with these tasks, according to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 survey. The survey, conducted by AARP, surveyed 6,858 caregivers aged 18 or older who had provided care for an adult relative, a friend 18+ or a child with a complex medical condition or disability within the past 12 months. 

The survey reported a little more than 20% of caregivers have received formal training on medical and nursing tasks despite over half managing complex medical and nursing tasks like injections, wound care or medication management—yet 65% of caregivers are helping with any ADLs and almost all caregivers help with any IADLs.

Overall, the survey also revealed that 63 million Americans—nearly 1 in 4 adults—provided ongoing care for an adult or a child with a complex medical condition or a disability in the past year, an increase of 20 million from 2015 to 2025.

Other findings in the report include:

• The average caregiver is 51 years old
• Women still account for the majority of caregivers (61%)
• 61% of all caregivers identify as non-Hispanic white individuals. Latino/Hispanic caregivers represent 16%; African American/Black caregivers 13%; and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) caregivers 6%
• 20% of caregivers live in rural areas
• 24% of family caregivers support more than one care recipient
• Most are caring for relatives, especially parents or spouses, but 11% are caring for nonrelatives such as friends or neighbors
• Older caregivers tend to care for spouses, whereas younger ones are more likely to care for older generations

“The data reveals a portrait of ordinary Americans providing extraordinary care,” said Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “This research makes painfully clear that family caregiving is no longer a looming crisis—it’s a daily reality that 63 million Americans shoulder every day. When nearly 1 in 4 adults are providing complex care with virtually no training, and more than 13 million struggle to care for their own health while caring for others, we cannot continue to treat family caregiving as invisible labor. It’s past time for a national reckoning with how we value care in this country—and for Congress, states, and employers to act with policies that reflect the essential role family caregivers play in our society.”

To view the report, click here.