AARP Is Giving Congress 100 Reasons to Support Family Caregivers

Find out why this undervalued workforce needs help now

Emily Paulin,

AARP

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Published January 27, 2025

Sharon Wille Padnos (left) and her mom, Jean Wille (right). Wille Padnos is reason #9 in AARP’s 100 Reasons campaign: "I give, give, give, at work … then I fly to my mom’s and give, give, give for a week. It’s getting harder to balance,” she says.

COURTESY OF SHARON WILLE PADNOS

As a new administration takes over in Washington, D.C., AARP kicked off a campaign to urge Congress to pass the Credit for Caring Act, a proposal that would give working family caregivers a non-refundable tax credit to offset caregiving expenses.

Starting Jan. 21 and running 100 days, we are giving Congress 100 reasons to pass the bipartisan legislation, drawing on our comprehensive caregiving research, our expert analysis, plus the personal stories of family caregivers across the country.

The overarching message of the campaign is “family caregivers need help,” said AARP’s John Hishta, senior vice president of campaigns. “They spend thousands a year out of their own pockets to care for their older family members — making it harder for them to afford groceries and pay bills. It’s important for folks to learn about that experience.”

Join Our Fight for Caregivers

Through the end of April, AARP’s social media channels will feature some eye-opening statistics highlighting the prominence of family caregiving in America and the financial burden it often carries. Reason #1 in the series, for example, reveals that family caregivers, on average, spend over $7,200 annually — 26 percent of their income — on out-of-pocket caregiving costs. Reason #60 focuses on the economic value of unpaid family caregiving, which is roughly $600 billion per year.

You’ll also hear many powerful tales from struggling caregivers like Walt in Wisconsin: "I paid out more than $1 million in [long-term care] for my wife, depleting my retirement savings that I worked hard to save," he said. And Michael in Montana: "My wife is going to have to sell her business to have time to take care of her mom. I do not know how we are going to make it and pay our bills.” And Jessica in Virginia: “There was a year when I spent $30,000 out of my pocket for caregiving alone... Care is beyond expensive.”

Advocating for the Credit for Caring Act

The goal of AARP’s 100 Reasons campaign is to increase support for the millions of working family caregivers across the country who largely go unrecognized. There are more than 48 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. and 61 percent of them are juggling either full or part-time work, according to AARP and S&P Global research.

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We are urging lawmakers to take up and pass the Credit for Caring Act, which would give working family caregivers a federal tax credit of up to $5,000 a year to help cover care costs such as home care aides, adult day services, home modifications, assistive technology, respite care and transportation.

The tax credit would be available to family caregivers of all ages who are working at least part-time and caring for someone who meets specific functional or cognitive limitations. Caregivers don’t need to live with their loved one in need or to claim that loved one as a dependent to be eligible. The credit amount would be 30 percent of the qualified expenses paid by the caregiver above $2,000, up to a maximum credit amount of $5,000.

AARP has endorsed the Credit for Caring Act since it was first introduced into Congress. Over the past year, our members have sent more than half a million letters to lawmakers in support of the proposal. Earlier this month, AARP was one of over 100 organizations and companies that signed a letter to Congress urging members to take up and pass the proposal in any upcoming tax legislation.

Learn How AARP Is Fighting for You

AARP is your fierce defender on the issues that matter to people 50-plus. Read more about how we’re fighting for you every day in Congress and across the country.

“Family caregivers are the backbone of services and supports in this country,” the letter noted. “They help make it possible for older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans to live independently in their homes and communities. The physical, emotional, and financial challenges they face in their caregiving roles cannot be overstated … [They] need support.”

Follow our 100 Reasons campaign on the AARP Advocates Facebook page or on X (formerly Twitter) and AARP’s I am a caregiver Instagram account. Also, get expert advice on how to best care for a loved one, and yourself, by exploring our award-winning caregiving coverage.

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Emily Paulin is an editor at aarp.org who covers nursing homes, health care, and federal and state policy. Her work has also appeared in Broadsheet, an Australian lifestyle publication.