The silent strain of spousal or partner caregivers getty

The first impact was emotional, says Esme Almonte, 58 (name changed). “When a loved one is suffering from a chronic illness, you think in the beginning, if you do things right, everything will be alright—and that’s what I thought.” Almonte is the primary caregiver for her husband, who suffers from leptomeningeal disease. She is among the rising number of spousal or partner caregivers who are women, according to research . She’s also part of the 44% of family caregivers in high-intensity situations, according to Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 , a landmark report published by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.

The report provides the most comprehensive snapshot to date of America’s 63 million caregivers and outlines

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