Eighty-one percent of financial caregivers to adults 65 and older said they would accept a less secure financial position to keep supporting the person in their care, according to research from Edward Jones, Age Wave and The Harris Poll.
The finding was highlighted in Harris’ Oct. 22 research roundup, which described the tension between helping loved ones now and fearing that those sacrifices could leave caregivers needing financial help themselves later.
The full caregiving report found that 87% did not want to become a caregiving burden on their own families. Eighty-five percent nevertheless said caregiving gave them a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Support includes money, time and financial management
The research defines financial caregiving broadly: contributing money, making personal financial sacrifices, managing a care recipient’s finances or handling legacy matters such as wills and end-of-life instructions.
Among the 84% who made unreimbursed contributions, the average annual amount was $8,737. That estimate applies to this contributing group, rather than every caregiver.
The report said support for long-term care was limited and professional care could be expensive, pressures that leave family members and friends balancing the care they want to provide with their own future needs.
Survey covered two different caregiving populations
Harris conducted the online research May 13-June 9, 2026, for Age Wave on behalf of Edward Jones. The sample included 3,223 U.S. adults and 2,152 Canadian adults who provided financial care to someone 65 or older, or to an adult ages 18 to 64 with disabilities.
Results were weighted to align with population proportions. The older-adult findings describe that group of caregivers; the overall sample also included people caring for younger adults with disabilities.
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