Why many Americans are caregivers in disguise
That's according to a survey of 2,000 Americans, including 1,000 who are caring for (or have cared for) a senior.
For those who have not "officially" cared for a senior, 53% didn't consider themselves a caregiver - despite taking on many caregiving responsibilities.
Related content
These respondents still do errands for a senior in their life (21%) and provide emotional and mental support (18%) for this older person.
Others also make a point to visit with them on a regular basis (16%), clean their home (16%) and provide transportation (14%).
Related content
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Comfort Keepers for the National Day of Joy, the survey revealed all these activities fit into respondents' definition of "caregiving."
When asked what caregiving means, 58% of respondents said, simply, being available at all times for the person being taken care of.
Less important as a definition were - giving care as an occupation (47%), living in the home with the senior (33%) or actually being paid (25%) for the work.
And with this broad definition for caregiving, 74% of respondents believe everyone will, at some point, become a caregiver for a senior who is unable to meet their own needs.
"Millions of Americans are caregivers in all but name, quietly supporting aging loved ones without recognizing the essential role they're already playing," said Saudia Gajadhar, chief happiness officer at Comfort Keepers. "Our research shows that many people don't identify as caregivers, even as they provide meaningful support, with many expecting to step into that role in the future. At Comfort Keepers, we aim to shine a light on the joy and purpose that caregiving brings to both those who give care and those who receive it."
While caregiving comes with challenges, it's also something for people to look forward to: three-quarters (74%) of those who have been a caregiver said it's one of the most rewarding chapters of their life.
Ninety-one percent of caregivers said it was an opportunity to bond with the senior they were spending time with, with one sharing: "It's like having another relative. You care for this person for so long and they adopt you."
Through caregiving, respondents learned, "there is a friend in anyone, all you need is time to know them." And, "that it is possible to be resilient even when the cards are stacked against you."
Caregivers also learned some surprising facts about the people they were caring for.
Respondents said the person they care for had experienced more adversity than they thought (33%) and is funnier than the caregiver previously thought (33%).
Caregivers also learned about passions and values the person they were caring for had (30%), and realized the person they were caring for lived a more wild, adventurous life than the caregiver ever knew (26%).
They shared discoveries that the senior they took care of dated a celebrity, one spoke seven languages and another was a champion ballroom dancer.
One respondent learned the person they were caring for was friends with Martin Luther King, while another said the person they cared for was in WWII as a fighter pilot and got shot down - and a third shared "they had a secret double life."
"Some feel that caregiving can be a burden, but most caregivers call it a blessing and an opportunity to uncover life's silver linings such as connecting with their loved one, learning family stories, finding purpose and feeling joy," said Sherri Snelling, gerontologist, author and spokesperson for Comfort Keepers. "Our survey shows that when people care for aging loved ones, they are giving support but they are also getting something back – deep emotional rewards, personal growth, and stronger bonds with older loved ones."
Related content
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 general population Americans and 1,000 respondents who are caregivers to a senior/have been a caregiver to a senior in the past (either paid or unpaid and not including general parenting responsibilities as caregiving). The survey was commissioned by Comfort Keepers and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 25–May 1, 2025.
We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
Traditional online access panels - where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentiveProgrammatic - where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.
Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.
Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.
Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speedersOpen ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant textBots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify botsDuplicates: Survey software has "deduping" based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.
The post Why many Americans are caregivers in disguise appeared first on Talker.
Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
11 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Green Beans Create a Summer Salad to Remember
'Americans just do not know how to cook green beans,' said Ann, a Bayfield Farmers Market vendor, as she handed me a sack of deep green, plump beans she picked earlier that morning. 'When they're underdone and too crisp, they just don't have much taste. Give them a few minutes more time when you boil them. They're tender but still firm. The little beans within the green bean [the seed] will cook, too.' Having grown up on limp, soggy, overcooked beans, I was reluctant to try this technique. I got the water boiling, dropped the beans, watched the pot and when they turned a bright green, drained them and refreshed under cold running water. They were pliable but no longer snapped back. After I drizzled the beans with a little good olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt, they were so finger-licking good I nearly polished off the entire lot. The baby bean inside the green bean added a gentle creaminess. Cooked this way, the beans were milder and less harsh—more of themselves.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Free lunch? Nope — but 53% off a Bentgo Box on Amazon might be even better
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Maybe it's impossible to get something for nothing. But if back-to-school is on the radar, this single purchase could get you pretty close. The uber-trendy, practical, and parent-approved Bentgo Leak-Proof Lunch Box is offiacally 53% off on Amazon, right in time for the start of the school year. At just under $20, deals like this don't happen every day — especially with back-to-school costs on the rise. A late July survey from U.S. News found that 85% of Americans are concerned about the cost of supplies, as the National Retail Federation reports that spending is expected to average around $858 per household in 2025. Back-to-school season may be far from free, but if you're ready to ditch disposable bags and keep your kid's lunch fresh enough to finish, Bentgo might be the upgrade you've been looking for. Did we mention it's also PFAS and BPA-Free? A win for your wallet, your kid's lunch, and the planet, too. Thousands of parents have grabbed a Bentgo in the past month alone, and the glowing reviews speak for themselves. Scroll down to see what all the fuss is about. Amazon Perfectly portioned and thoughtfully designed, the Bentgo Kids lunch box makes packing meals fun and mess-free. It's microwave and dishwasher-safe, and keeps food fresh and separated with five kid-friendly compartments and a leak-proof seal that kids and parents love. 'The Bentgo lunch box is a game-changer for meal prep and packing! Its compartmentalized design is incredibly practical…' one shopper raved. 'The leak-proof seals are a huge plus; I've never had a spill, even with saucier items. It's also surprisingly durable and easy to clean.' Drop-proof, colorful, and easy for little hands to open, it's a simple mealtime solution that should last for years (ideal for ages 3 to 7, to be exact). It's a no-brainer for school lunches, road trip snacks, or even park picnics. Adorable, versatile, and let's face it, much more reliable than the paper sacs of the past. This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Journalist. As a Gen Z first-time mother of one, Miska tests baby, maternity and postpartum products ranging from stylish new kids clothes to long-trusted diaper brands with her daughter. She evaluates baby- and mom-approved products for practicality and quality, and consults medical and parenting experts to weigh in on safe ingredients, usage and more. Before arriving at the Post, she covered the lifestyle and consumer verticals for the U.S. Sun.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Top climate tech exec: The AC gap between Europe and America is becoming an economic liability
Picture this: it's a scorching summer day in the U.S. You wake up in a cool, comfortable room after a solid night's sleep. You head to work, where the temperature is optimised for concentration. Unless you step outside for a lunchtime walk, you're completely protected from the heat. Now picture the same scenario in an average European city. You wake up after a night of tossing and turning. You're sticky, uncomfortable, and already dreading the commute. Jammed on a crowded train, you suffer through a heavy delay as your city's transport infrastructure struggles in the face of extreme temperatures. If you're working from home, the only relief comes from a fan slowly circulating warm air around the room. The fundamental difference between these two realities? Air conditioning. In the U.S., 90% of households have AC. In Europe? Just 20% on average. In some countries, such as the UK, that number falls to less than 5%. At first glance, this might seem like a minor difference — fodder for TikTok skits or Reddit debates, where Americans and Europeans poke fun at each other's respective abilities to handle summer weather. But when the temperature rises, the impact on productivity is anything but trivial. Europe's growing productivity gap with the U.S — which has widened since the pandemic — isn't just a result of regulation, labor laws, or tech prowess. It's now also about climate. Or, more precisely, the difference in how we experience extreme temperatures. Heat is an existential threat to some European economies Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth. Across the primarily AC-free nations, heat waves can (and increasingly do) shut down schools, disrupt businesses, and make it impossible for people to function at their best. Employers are forced to shift working hours to protect staff from the heat, those with caring responsibilities struggle to look after the most vulnerable (children, the elderly) and families are caught in a daily battle for comfort and efficiency. This climate vulnerability isn't just inconvenient, it's a serious threat to economic competitiveness. Economists are already warning that Europe's failure to adapt to a hotter future could dampen its growth prospects. Tourism too looks set to suffer. As heatwaves become more frequent, particularly in Southern Europe, holiday-makers are starting to look elsewhere in search of more comfortable climes. This presents an existential threat to the lifeblood of economies, particularly across the Mediterranean. As the continent struggles to balance the demands of climate change and economic growth, heat is a growing liability. Public calls for AC are getting louder. In the UK, searches for homes with air conditioning have soared and AC is quickly becoming a middle class status symbol. In France, politicians like Marine Le Pen have jumped on the bandwagon, announcing a 'grand plan for air conditioning'. You might imagine that the solution is simple: copy the US playbook and roll out air conditioning across Europe. Tempting as it may seem, it's not quite that straightforward. The grid isn't up to the job Air conditioning is electricity-intensive. And most European nations don't have the grid infrastructure to support a shift of this scale. This fragility was laid bare in Italy this summer, when a heat-wave-induced surge in demand for AC triggered blackouts. Europe's national grids are straining at the seams: struggling to keep pace with the range of resilience upgrades required for modern consumption, and grappling with the volume of clean energy sources clamouring to connect. (It's a deep irony that the vast quantities of solar power brought about by hotter, drier summers — which could unlock AC capabilities without creating a new carbon burden — can't be properly harnessed due to grid connection delays.) Across large swathes of Europe, buildings are also older and poorly insulated. Planning restrictions are tighter and the culture of renting rather than owning complicates installation. Collectively, beleaguered grids and logistical challenges means those sweaty nights and lethargic days risk becoming part and parcel of European summers. To escape this incrementally hotter bind and unlock US-style levels of productivity that AC-enabled environments can bring, we need smarter infrastructure and more investment in it. That means using advanced modelling and AI to understand where grids are weakest, how demand is shifting, and where small, targeted upgrades could unlock big gains. It means simulating future heat scenarios to stress-test energy networks before a crisis hits or a capacity expansion is attempted. It means replacing guesswork with precision so that investments in cooling — and the infrastructure behind it — actually pay off. Only with this kind of intelligent planning can Europe move fast enough to adapt to a hotter future — without burning out its grids, budgets, or climate goals in the process. Air conditioning may be the fix, but without addressing the underlying infrastructure challenges, Europe will continue to sweat through the heat and suffer the economic consequences. And across the pond? Well, the Americans are just waking up from a great night's sleep. The opinions expressed in commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
