Millions of Americans Juggle Caregiving and Full-Time Jobs

Paid leave benefits for family caregiving are growing, but challenges remain for many workers.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

More than 63 million Americans provide care for an adult family member, often while also holding down a full-time job. Caregiving responsibilities can make it challenging to maintain employment, with the average caregiver spending about six hours a day caring for aging loved ones. While the Family and Medical Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, more than a dozen states now mandate some form of paid leave for caregiving. Some companies are also offering flexible scheduling, remote work options, and other benefits to support employee caregivers.

Why it matters

As the U.S. population ages, the need for family caregiving is growing. However, the lack of paid leave and other caregiver-friendly policies can force many workers to choose between their jobs and caring for loved ones, impacting both employee well-being and employer productivity. Expanding access to paid caregiving leave and other supportive benefits is crucial for helping workers balance these responsibilities.

The details

The article profiles Debra Whitman, chief public policy officer at AARP, who was able to take several days of paid caregiving leave to care for her father when he was hospitalized. AARP offers up to two weeks of paid time off per year for employees to care for family members. The article also highlights the challenges faced by Susan Hammond, who spends 4-5 hours a day caring for her mother with dementia while also running a nonprofit organization. Hammond has set up cameras and motion detectors to monitor her mother remotely when she's at work or traveling.

  • Debra Whitman took several days off to care for her father when he was suddenly hospitalized.
  • The average caregiving role spans about six years, according to Meghan Shea of New York Life Group Benefit Solutions.

The players

Debra Whitman

Chief public policy officer at AARP who was able to take paid caregiving leave to care for her father.

Meghan Shea

Vice president at New York Life Group Benefit Solutions, which provides life insurance and helps administer leaves of absence for employers.

Susan Hammond

Lives across the street from her mother, who has dementia, and spends 4-5 hours a day caring for her while also running a nonprofit organization.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Instead of having to take all my vacation, I could take several days of caregiving leave while I was out there. That's been a huge godsend for a lot of my staff.”

— Debra Whitman, Chief public policy officer at AARP (Fortune)

“The challenge is that leave isn't unlimited. The average caregiving role spans about six years. So really, it's a life change for these employees, and they need to figure out how to balance responsibilities in a new way, and that's very stressful.”

— Meghan Shea, Vice president at New York Life Group Benefit Solutions (Fortune)

“I can always know where she is just by looking at my watch. Because we can monitor the cameras and monitor the alarms, I know she's safe.”

— Susan Hammond (Fortune)

What’s next

As the population continues to age, the need for family caregiving is expected to grow, putting increased pressure on employers to offer more comprehensive caregiver benefits. Policymakers may also consider expanding federal and state-level paid leave laws to better support working caregivers.

The takeaway

Providing paid leave and other caregiver-friendly policies is crucial for helping workers balance their jobs and family caregiving responsibilities. While some progress has been made, there is still more work to be done to ensure all employees have the support they need to care for their loved ones without sacrificing their careers.