Watch this Episode of BoomerTime with Nancy Cogar
Most people don’t think of themselves as “caregivers” — they think of themselves as a son, a daughter, a spouse doing what families do. But the scale of what’s happening in this country is staggering.
There are now 63 million Americans providing care to another adult family member — a nearly 50% increase since 2015. AARP
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 38.2 million people — 14% of the civilian population 15 and older — provide unpaid eldercare to someone 65 or older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Middle-aged caregivers are most likely to be caring for a parent; older caregivers most often care for a spouse; and caregivers 55 and older spend significantly more time caregiving than their younger counterparts — one to two hours per day vs. less than an hour. Center for Retirement Research
59% of caregivers are women; 43% are the sole caregiver, and 47% lack any formal support. SeniorLiving.org
The average family caregiver spends about 25 hours a week — essentially a part-time job — on caregiving, and 25% devote more than 40 hours per week. Caregiver Action Network
AARP estimates that 59 million caregivers of adults provided 49.5 billion hours of care in 2024, at an average value of $20.41 per hour — totaling more than $1 trillion in unpaid care for the year alone. AARP
In this episode, I want to check on my caregivers out there. I, too, am a caregiver and have walked the walk. So I hope that my take on caregiving challenges can be of help to those of you who are new to the role or are feeling pressed against the wall when providing care to a loved one.
I talk about the “one willing child” phenomenon, the physical and mental toll of caregiving, and the sacrifices one makes to their career and their finances in the name of caregiving.
In this episode, I’ve included a free resource to help you navigate caregiving and better understand what to expect — from one caregiver to another. I salute you.
To add, there’s a book that puts all so much of the caregiving journey into perspective.
I wrote the BoomerTime™ Blueprint with older adults in mind. It’s a compassionate framework to help you and your loved ones prepare for aging before it becomes a crisis. My hope is that this books serves as a lighthouse in the midst of the incoming Silver Tsunami — the approaching era where there will be more seniors over 65 than ever before in history.
Use this book to find your way to shore safely with helpful advice, stories and resources to help you plan with peace of mind. Order it on Amazon in eBook, paperback and audiobook.
Sources: AARP/NAC Caregiving in the US 2025; BLS Unpaid Eldercare 2023–2024; A Place for Mom 2025 Caregiver Survey; Columbia University/Otsuka 2024 Valuation Study; National Partnership for Women & Families 2025; Catalyst 2026; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
🔑 For help, visit https://www.NancyCogar.com
📚 Looking for a community of caregivers and families in need of planning support? Join my FREE Skool here: https://www.skool.com/the-evergreen-pathway
🎙Listen to BoomerTime with Nancy Cogar on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NancyACogar
🎙Listen to BoomerTime with Nancy Cogar on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0fxgUg1FwgfazDEDWnqnoS
🎙Listen to BoomerTime with Nancy Cogar on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boomer-time-with-nancy-cogar/id1725555845
🎙Listen to BoomerTime with Nancy Cogar on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-boomer-time-with-nancy-cog-272050488/
✨Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancy.cogar
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website and on the podcast is not intended to be considered as legal advice or constitute an attorney/client relationship as provided under the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct.
