Caregiving changes everything.
Including your wallet.
Family caregivers quietly absorb enormous financial costs — in dollars spent, income lost, savings depleted, and time given. This survey helps us understand that reality so we can tell a more complete story about caregiving's impact on the economy.
There are no right answers here. Your honest experience is exactly what we need — and what other family caregivers need to hear.
How long have you been a family caregiver?
Include all the years you've been helping, supporting, or caring for a family member.
Who do you care for?
Select all that apply.
How has caregiving changed how you spend money on yourself?
About how much did you stop spending on yourself each month because of caregiving?
Think about what you used to spend on yourself — dining out, clothing, hobbies, self-care — that caregiving has reduced or eliminated.
What expenses have increased for you because of caregiving?
Select all that apply.
What have you stopped spending on — or spent less on — because of caregiving?
Select all that apply.
Have you had to make major financial adjustments because of caregiving?
Select all that apply.
Do you have a budget specifically for caregiving expenses?
A budget built to account for what caregiving costs — separate from your regular household budget.
What makes budgeting for caregiving difficult?
How financially stressed do you feel right now because of caregiving?
Do you feel guilty about spending money on yourself while caregiving?
What most influences how you spend money as a family caregiver?
Select up to three.
In what ways do you try to save money while caregiving?
Share as much or as little as you'd like — practical workarounds, things you've given up, or strategies that actually help.
What's the hardest part of managing money while caregiving?
Share as much or as little as you'd like. Your words help us tell this story.
What would you tell another family caregiver about managing finances while caregiving?
Your advice — even if it's "I don't know, I'm figuring it out too" — matters.
Would you be willing to share your story with a reporter?
We are building the case for family caregiver reimbursement, and a reporter may be interested in your experience. We would contact you first and never share your information without asking.
We will only reach out to ask if you'd be willing to speak with a reporter. You can say no at any time.
We'll only use this to share findings from this research — never for anything else.
Saving your responses…
Thank you for telling your story.
What you shared here matters. Every honest answer helps us make the invisible costs of caregiving visible — and builds the case that family caregivers deserve real, meaningful support.
You're not alone in this. And what you carry every day is more than money can measure.
Your responses
This survey is part of Denise Brown's Care Economy Series at The Caregiving Years Training Academy. Connect with other family caregivers at Caring Our Way.
