Ahead of National Family Caregivers Month, AARP Florida Releases State-Level Data Detailing Caregiving Prevalence in Florida

New AARP caregiving data released today, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States, finds that 24% of adults in Florida — approximately 4.45 million people — are family caregivers, providing largely unpaid and unsupported care to older parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Insights from the AARP Florida Caregiver Report underscore the urgent need to support the millions of Floridians providing unpaid care to loved ones.

“When a loved one needs help, family members, friends, and neighbors step up, that’s what we do,” said Jeff Johnson, AARP Florida State Director. “But too often, caregivers carry this responsibility alone, often putting their finances, health, and jobs at risk. As our state population ages, the demand for care will only grow. With the release of this new data and ahead of the 2026 legislative session, AARP Florida is urging state and federal policymakers to act now to help family caregivers save money, manage their time, and get the support they need through initiatives like the federal Care for America’s Caregivers proposal.

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Family caregivers provide $40 billion in unpaid care each year in Florida, helping family members live independently at home and in their communities—where they want to be. Their caregiving responsibilities range from bathing and meal prep to managing medications, arranging transportation, and handling medical tasks, with little or no training.

New data from the AARP Florida Caregiving in the U.S. report highlights the scope and intensity of family caregiving in Florida:

• On average, family caregivers are 51 years old and care for someone 69 years old in Florida. 
• Most family caregivers in Florida care for an adult (98%) — most often a parent  (50%).
• A quarter of caregivers (26%) are sandwich generation caregivers who care for an adult while also caring for a child under 18. 
• 34% of caregivers spend at least 40 hours a week providing care or providing constant care. 
• 34% of caregivers have been providing care for three years or longer. 
• Four in ten caregivers (41%) experience high emotional stress while caregiving.  
• One quarter (24%) feel alone while caregiving. 

But the toll on our family caregivers is great— financially, physically, and emotionally.

• 80% of caregivers pay out of their own pockets to help meet their loved ones’ needs, averaging $7,200 each year, or 25% of their income.  
• In Florida, 54% of family caregivers report financial setbacks— taking on debt, draining savings, or struggling to afford basics like food and medicine. 
• 59% of our state’s caregivers are also juggling full- or part-time jobs. Many must reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely due to caregiving responsibilities, jeopardizing their own long-term financial security.