A National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP study reported what percent of the U.S. population over age 18 provides unpaid care to friends and family age 50 and older?

• A. 19
• B. 31
• C. 45
• D. 50

Answer: (A)

Understanding how common unpaid caregiving is helps you grasp the real scope of support that older adults receive from family and friends. The study from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP looked at adults 18 and older and asked how many provide unpaid help to someone aged 50 or older. It found that about 19% of the U.S. population falls into this category—roughly one in five adults.

This number matters because it highlights that caregiving is a widespread, shared responsibility, not just something done by a small group. Unpaid caregiving can include a range of tasks, from helping with daily activities and transportation to managing medications or coordinating medical appointments. The statistic reflects how many people are involved in this kind of support, regardless of how many hours they spend.

The other numbers would imply a much larger segment of the population is in that role, which the study does not support. So the 19% figure best captures the prevalence of unpaid caregiving to someone aged 50 or older.