The Rising Trend of Caregivers: Surprising Report in 2025 with AARP

In this illuminating episode, host Darleen Mahoney welcomes Rita Shula, Senior Director of Caregiving at the AARP Public Policy Institute, for an in-depth discussion about the dramatic rise in family caregivers across America—a trend revealed by AARP’s latest research. Together, they unpack the staggering statistic that one in four adults now provides some form of caregiving, exploring the forces driving this increase: a rapidly aging population, evolving care needs, and the shortage of affordable professional support.Rita Shula shares insights from the study, revealing that caregiving isn’t limited to retired or older adults—most caregivers are actually employed, with a growing number balancing careers, child-rearing, and demanding care roles. Through personal stories and data, the episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial toll caregiving takes, from invisible stressors and “sandwich generation” pressures to the impacts of loneliness and strained health.The episode also turns to solutions, as Rita Shula explains AARP’s advocacy for practical policy changes such as tax credits, improved healthcare navigation, flexible savings accounts, and workplace support. Listeners will discover free resources, expert guides, and vibrant online support groups.SeniorLivingGuide.com Podcast sponsored by TerraBella Senior Living & Tom Marks, Best Selling Author on RetirementAARP 2025 Report LinkAARP Caregiving Resources The background music is written, performed, and produced exclusively by purple-planet.com.https://www.purple-planet.com/SeniorLivingGuide.com Webinars and Podcast represents the opinions and expertise of our guests. The content here is for informational and educational purposes. It does not necessarily represent the views, recommendations, opinions or advice of Fairfax