As state and federal budget cuts in such programs as Medicare and Medicaid reduce availability of formal support services, family caregivers continue to provide the majority of long-term care to older adults.  It is estimated that 80% of care for older adults is provided by their families. Nearly one in three American households has caregiving responsibilities for older dependent adults.

An estimated 44% of caregiving daughters and 55% of caregiving sons are employed, which suggests that many adult children caring for their parents have family and work obligations that may conflict with caregiving responsibilities.  Role conflict resulting from the competing demands of the care recipient, other family obligations, and employment responsibilities are often a major complaint of caregivers (Bliesner & Alley; Montgomery, Gonyea & Hooyman).

Employed caregivers report family conflict and the loss of friends and activities as a result of caregiving.  The emotional and physical strains of caregiving often lead to deterioration in the caregiver's own health.  Although caregivers report physical, financial, and family strains associated with caregiving, the most negative consequences of caregiving on caregivers seem to be the emotional strain of caregiver burdens.