How Not To Pull Your Family Apart

Caregiving: Then and Now

The reality Jodi and Jackson discussed has only become more urgent. According to the Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, nearly 63 million American adults—almost one in four—now provide ongoing care to a loved one with a medical condition or disability. Just a decade ago, that figure stood at 44 million. In ten short years, caregiving has expanded from a widespread challenge to an almost universal experience in American households. Of today’s caregivers, 59 million are supporting an adult with complex health needs. This isn’t just spouses or parents—it includes siblings, neighbors, friends, and even children. Caregivers span every age, race, ethnicity, and income level, taking on responsibilities that range from personal care and daily tasks to coordinating health services, managing finances, and performing medical procedures once reserved for professionals. These statistics make one thing clear: Jodi’s concern about becoming a burden on her children wasn’t misplaced—it was prescient. The risks she identified for her own family have only intensified nationwide. Caregiving is no longer an exception; it is the expectation. That is why the planning options presented in this book are not simply helpful—they are essential. Preparing for extended care isn’t just about protecting retirement savings. It’s about preserving health, safeguarding relationships, and ensuring that adult children, already managing their own busy lives, don’t get pulled deeper into the sandwich generation without support. Care planning isn’t a “redo.” It’s the necessary step forward.