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Paid caregivers consist of nurses, health professionals, and personal aids. Formal caregivers have much experience because they are trained. In the United States, about 89% of paid caregivers are women. Paid caregiving consists about 28% of African Americans and 21% of Latino women (National Partnership, 2018). In total, there are roughly five million paid caregivers in the United States. Formal caregivers are trained to help care recipients in any way possible. They offer personal care, medical care, and friendship.

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There are many benefits of being a paid caregiver. A paid caregiver not only can help the care recipient, but also the family. There are many family members who are caregivers and have a full time job. Paid caregivers can help families focus only on their jobs while they take care of the care recipient. Many caregivers develop strong bonds while caring for the recipient, and many feel a sense of purpose in doing so. Paid caregivers can develop flexible schedules for themselves, and can gain beneficial skills that will help them in their career.

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A current paid caregiving article reports that family caregiving has increased since 2015, but paid caregiving has decreased. From 2015-2025, family caregiving has expanded by 45% (Gonzales, 2025). At the same time, paid caregiving has gone down due to this increase. The article explains that for many years, paid caregivers have excelled with activities of daily living (ADLs), but with family caregiving increasing, there is no need for paid caregiving (Gonzales, 2025). Paid caregivers account for 32% of 63 million family caregivers in the United States. Another report discusses that paid caregivers on average are younger and are not paid well (Positive Aging, 2025).

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Since formal caregivers are trained, there are training programs that provide future caregivers with caregiving knowledge. These training programs teach caregivers the quality of care a care recipient needs (NIH, 2020). Formal caregivers can also join caregiver support groups. These support groups help caregivers learn of other caregiving experiences. They can also explain their experiences to other caregivers. Many formal caregivers attend therapy sessions so they can cope with their stress. Paid caregivers are also offered paid leave in which caregivers can take a break and still receive pay.

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Although paid caregiving can be rewarding, it also comes with stressors that many paid caregivers do not realize. Paid caregivers can develop mental, physical, and behavioral problems as they care for the care recipient. Paid caregivers can experience stress, depression, and exhaustion as they work. Long working hours and lack of job security are contributing to a paid caregiver's stress as well. Many healthcare professionals and nurses also experience long working hours and a lack of social support. A lack of community support can increase a caregiver's emotional stress.

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There are many theories of paid caregiving that caregivers can develop. Caregiver burnout can develop in the workplace of the home, and many caregivers can experience it. Caregiver burnout results from stress in the workplace, and it can affect caregivers mentally, physically, and emotionally. Compassion fatigue can develop when caregivers experience psychological signs while taking care of the recipient. Caregivers can develop compassion fatigue when they are filled with guilt, anger, anxiety, or depression. Lastly, caregivers can develop ambiguous loss when there is no conclusion as to the loss they experienced.

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Gonzales, M. (2025, July 25). Only 32% of America's 63 Million Family Caregivers Use Paid Help. Home Health Care News. https://homehealthcarenews.com/2025/07/only-32-of-americas-63-million-caregivers-use-paid-help/

Leggett, A. (2020, April 24). Accentuate the positive: The association between informal and formal supports and caregiving gains. NIH National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7584731/

National Partnership. (2018, November). The Female Face of Family Caregiving. https://nationalpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/female-face-family-caregiving.pdf

Positive Aging Community. (2025, July 27). Caregiving in the U.S. 2025. A Comprehensive Overview. https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/proagingnews/caregiving-in-the-us-2025-a-comprehensive-overview

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Accentuate the positive: The association between informal and formal supports and caregiving gains

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To promote resilience among caregivers for persons living with dementia (PLWDs), we examine how formal and informal supports are linked to caregiving gains, and whether gender moderates the association between supports and gains. Using the National…