63 Million Adults Are Secretly Moonlighting as Caregivers—And the System Is Failing Them

The silent army of 63 million working caregivers is propping up America’s broken healthcare system—with zero safety net.

No benefits. No training. Just burnout.

While Wall Street bets on robotic nurses, real humans are drowning in unpaid labor. Guess which one gets tax breaks?

Unretirement after caregiving

Robinson is too young to actually retire for myriad reasons.

“I do know that I will have to return to work at some point to keep up with healthcare costs and increasing cost-of-living,” she said. “I don't want to deplete my retirement savings. But for now caring for mom is a labor of love. It’s just what you do.”

To prepare for that future unretirement, she is strategically doing pro bono projects and accepted an unpaid board position on a nonprofit that she can handle remotely — all things that help her skills stay relevant.

“I'm still active so that it won't look to a potential employer that I just went off into vacation mode for a few years and didn't do anything,” she said.

The average caregiver is 51 years old and lives with the person they care for, according to the report. Women account for the majority (61%) of caregivers.

“Women face several obstacles that jeopardize their retirement security — they live longer and they need more income,” Cindy Hounsell, founder and president of the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), told Yahoo Finance. “The impact of caregiving responsibilities causes them to save less, which means recovering financially is unlikely for many of them in this situation.”

The workplace dilemma

It’s not a secret or surprise that caregiving responsibilities hinder career advancement.

The work is unpredictable and not responsive to the demands of a 9 to 5 job.

As a result, many workers find themselves forced to make career changes. Working caregivers say they are willing to change jobs for better caregiving support — even if it requires a career shift, doing less meaningful work, or relocating, according to a recent SHRM report.

Caregivers are often hesitant to even disclose their caregiver status, fearing stigma or negative repercussions in the workplace.

“Caregiving has emerged as one of the most defining challenges facing families, and one of the most disruptive forces shaping the modern workforce,” said Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO and founder of Wellthy, a firm that provides caregiving support through its partnerships with employers, health plans and insurance carriers.

I can relate. When I was self-employed a few years ago, I cared for my 91-year-old mother with dementia in my home. I hung by a thread trying to get work done before she awoke for the day.

The stress and responsibility were overwhelming. I never told my clients what I was dealing with on a daily basis. I just put my head down and did my work.

“The cost, complexity, and emotional weight of care has only grown, with employees navigating longer lifespans for loved ones, rising care expenses, and increasingly intense responsibilities,” Jusrist-Rosner said. “Its impact is deeply personal, yet profoundly structural, and it’s becoming universal for nearly every employee and every family.”

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work," and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky.