Madison, WI — November 19, 2025 — A new survey by the Survival Coalition of Wisconsin highlights the immense burden carried by unpaid family caregivers across the state. More than 525 respondents shared their experiences, painting a stark picture of the challenges faced by families who provide essential care without compensation. Link to Caregiver Statistics
Key Findings
Care Hours Rival Full-Time Jobs
• 60% of unpaid caregivers provide care equal to or exceeding a half-time job (20+ hours per week).
• 10% provide care equivalent to a full-time job, and 31% deliver more than 60 hours weekly, often around the clock.
Families Fill Workforce Gaps:
• When paid workers are unavailable, 63% of families step in to fill the gap.
• 31% report going without care entirely when shifts cannot be covered.
Impact on Employment and Finances
•Caregivers report leaving or considering leaving the workforce due to caregiving demands.
• One respondent shared: “I’ve already had to leave the workforce to care for my son.” Another said: “My parents will NEVER be able to retire due to expenses.”
Impact on Wisconsin Employers
• Employee caregiving costs US employers $33 billion annually from lost productivity and an additional $6.6 billion to replace
employees who retire early or quit,”
• Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA) Exemplary Employer awards recognize employers that adopted policies and practices to help unpaid caregivers keep their jobs. Award ceremony November 21, 2025. Madison, WI WFACSA at http://wisconsincaregiver.org/alliance
Complex Responsibilities Beyond Basic Care
- Unpaid caregivers are performing tasks that rival professional health care roles:
• 86% coordinate care, including scheduling appointments and managing prescriptions.
• 67% complete Medicaid paperwork and verify eligibility.
• 67% perform nursing or medical tasks, while 60% provide personal care such as assistance with transfers, toileting, and eating.
• 83% attend medical appointments, and 36% correct billing and paperwork errors.
Call to Action
The Survival Coalition urges policymakers, employers, and communities to recognize that for multiple reasons unpaid caregivers are not a sustainable solution for Wisconsin’s direct care workforce crisis. Investments in the direct care workforce strengthen our economy, communities, and individual health outcomes.
Link to Press Release on Website: http://www.survivalcoalitionwi.org/index.php/2025/updates/wisconsins-unpaid-caregivers-shoulder-a-growing-crisis-survival-coalition-survey-reveals-alarming-trends-madison-wi-november-19-2025/
