A caregiver is a family member, partner, friend, or neighbor who helps care for an elderly individual or person with a disability who lives at home. In 2004, there were more than 44 million caregivers age 18 or older in the United States - about 21% of the adult population – providing care for an adult family member or friend. Approximately 60% of caregivers are women. Thirteen percent (13%) of caregivers caring for older adults are themselves aged 65 or over. The typical caregiver is a 46-year-old woman who is married and employed, and is caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her.

Caregivers provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking, and other services on a daily or intermittent basis.  A 2006 study of caregivers found that on average caregivers spend 21 hours a week giving care.  Half of them have intensive caregiving responsibilities, performing at least one activity of daily living, such as bathing and feeding, for their care recipients.  Twenty-six percent (26%) perform three or more of these activities.  Eighty percent (80%) of caregivers perform activities like fixing meals, doing housework, and providing transportation to medical appointments.