Family Caregivers: What They Do, Why They Matter, and How to Support Them

When someone in your family needs help with bathing, medication, meals, or just getting through the day, it’s often a family caregiver, a relative or close friend who provides unpaid daily care to a loved one with illness, disability, or aging needs. Also known as informal caregiver, this role isn’t listed on a job description—but it’s one of the most demanding jobs in society. These are the people who wake up early to help a parent get dressed, stay up late to manage pain meds, skip work for doctor visits, and still find time to cook dinner—all while juggling their own lives. They’re not professionals. They’re moms, dads, siblings, adult children, spouses. And they’re doing the work that hospitals, nursing homes, and government programs can’t fully cover.

Family caregivers don’t get paid, but they pay a heavy price. Many experience burnout, financial strain, and isolation. Studies show over 60% of family caregivers report high levels of stress—higher than most full-time workers. They often give up careers, savings, and personal time. And yet, they keep going because no one else will. This isn’t charity. It’s survival—for the person being cared for, and for the whole family system. unpaid caregiving, the act of providing daily assistance to a loved one without formal compensation or training is the hidden backbone of long-term care in communities across India and beyond. It’s also why programs like home care support, respite services, and caregiver training matter so much. Without them, families break.

Supporting a family caregiver doesn’t mean replacing them. It means lifting some of the weight. It’s a neighbor bringing a meal. A local group offering free transportation to appointments. A community center hosting a weekly chat for caregivers to vent and share tips. It’s schools and workplaces recognizing that caregiving is a real responsibility—not a personal choice that can be ignored. And it’s understanding that elder care, the ongoing support provided to older adults with physical or cognitive decline and home care, care delivered in a person’s own residence, often by family members aren’t just medical terms—they’re daily realities for millions.

Below, you’ll find real stories and practical guides from people who’ve been in the trenches. You’ll learn why volunteers don’t get paid even when they’re doing the same work as family caregivers. You’ll see how outreach programs try to reach them—and where they fall short. You’ll find out what kind of help actually makes a difference, and what doesn’t. These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re the tools, the struggles, and the small wins that keep family caregivers going.