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What’s Your Best Path as a Family Caregiver?

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Graphic of directional signs showing arrows pointing up, left, right, and diagonally.

Welcome!

As a family caregiver, you spend your own time and money helping your loved one. Before you make any big decisions, you’ll want to look closely at how different options might affect you financially.

This tool will help you explore options that keep your financial health in mind.

None of the information entered will be saved or utilized for marketing or other purposes. All required fields are indicated with an asterisk.

First things first, what should we call you?

First Name *

Step One

As a family caregiver, you might be juggling your work and your caregiving responsibilities. We want to help you think about your options. What caregiving choice would you like to think about today?

Select one.

Why are you thinking about this today?

Why are you thinking about this today?

Select all that apply.

My loved one needs more care.

I can’t keep working and caring – it’s all too much!

Hiring help costs too much.

I feel financially stressed.

I feel guilty.

I don't know why I am trying to make this decision.

Why are you thinking about this today?

Why are you thinking about this today?

Select all that apply.

My loved one needs more care.

I can’t keep working and caring – it’s all too much!

Hiring help costs too much.

I feel financially stressed.

I feel guilty.

I don't know why I am trying to make this decision.

How long have you been thinking about this?

How long have you been thinking about this?

Select one.

I have just started to think about it.

I have thought about it but need to know more.

How long have you been thinking about this?

How long have you been thinking about this?

Select one.

I have just started to think about it.

I have thought about it but need to know more.

Graphic of a woman standing with outstretched arms surrounded by floating question marks, suggesting uncertainty.

What do you want to do next?

See a story from a real family caregiver
Read an article or visit a website to learn more
Answer a few questions to help me think this through

Graphic of a woman standing with outstretched arms surrounded by floating question marks, suggesting uncertainty.

What do you want to do next?

See a story from a real family caregiver
Read an article or visit a website to learn more

Thanks, {$firstname}

The costs of caregiving may have you wondering if you should leave your paying job to become a full-time caregiver or work fewer hours. But can you afford that?

Which area would you like to explore?

Select all that apply

Select all that apply.

Impact on your Income + Expenses

Effect on your Savings + Retirement

Balancing your Work + Life Responsibilities

Graphic of calculator with hand pressing a button.

Income and Expenses

Caregivers who leave the workforce — even temporarily — don’t just sacrifice a paycheck. You may also miss out on some of your highest earning years, depending on your age and job. Let's explore the impact that leaving your job or working fewer hours to provide more care could have on your income and expenses.

First, let’s look at your current budget.

You will see these numbers later, in your summary.

How much income, on average, do you earn each month from your job(s)? *

How many hours do you work on average each week? *

What are your estimated monthly expenses (e.g., rent, food, transportation, healthcare, caregiving, etc.) *

On average how much do you spend on caregiving each month? (medicine, doctor’s appointments, supplies, hiring other people, etc.) *

About how many hours per week do you provide care? *

How many more hours each week do you think you need to provide your loved one with the level of care they need? Take a guess, even if it means reducing your hours at work. *

While leaving your job or working fewer hours may seem like the best way to provide more care to your loved one, would you be willing to consider any of the following?

For each of the following, move the slider to indicate if you would consider this option.

Working a flexible schedule or working from home *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Using paid sick leave for your caregiving duties *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Taking a temporary paid leave of absence *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Retiring from work *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Splitting caregiving responsibilities with another friend or family member *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Hiring a part-time or full-time paid caregiver *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Getting paid for the care you currently provide *

Not really possible Might Consider Have Already Considered

Income and Expenses

When thinking about leaving your job, or reducing your hours, what are the good ways it would affect your income or expenses? *

When thinking about leaving your job, or reducing your hours, what are challenges that would affect your income or expenses? *

Graphic of smiling piggy bank with hand dropping coin into slot.

Savings and Retirement

Leaving your job to become a full-time caregiver could greatly impact you! You would not only lose income. Leaving the workforce might mean less for your retirement. Let's explore how leaving your job or working fewer hours to provide more care could affect your savings and retirement.

We'll start by taking a look at your current thinking about savings and retirement.

About how many years until you plan to retire or until you need to meet your savings goal? (We’ll use this information to make recommendations later.)

About how many years until you plan to retire or until you need to meet your savings goal? (We’ll use this information to make recommendations later.)

Select one.

20+ years

10-19 years

5-10 years

Less than 5 years

Savings and Retirement: Savings Form

How much do you already have saved? It’s OK if you enter zero. *

How much do you want to put in your savings account each year? *

On average, how much are you able to contribute to your savings or retirement account each month? *

Savings and Retirement

When thinking about leaving your job, or reducing your hours, what are the good ways it could affect your savings and retirement? *

When thinking about leaving your job, or reducing your hours, what are challenges that would affect your savings and retirement? *

Graphic of a caregiver helping an older adult walk with a cane

Work and Life

We get it. You feel like you’re not doing either of your jobs — the full or part-time paying one or the unpaid caregiving one — as well as you could. Let's explore how leaving your job or reducing your hours to provide more care could affect your ability to balance your work + life responsibilities.

Let’s start by imagining your perfect balance between work and caregiving. How many hours a week would you ideally like to spend:

Working at your job(s) *

Caregiving for your loved one *

Spending time with family *

Hobbies, sports, or other activities *

Relaxing - you deserve to be able to relax! *

If you leave your job, or work fewer hours, so you could provide more care to your loved one, does that get you closer to your ideal balance?

For each of the following, move the slider to indicate if you would consider this option.

Working at your job *

Further from my ideal Doesn't change Closer to my ideal

Caregiving for your loved one *

Further from my ideal Doesn't change Closer to my ideal

Spending time with family *

Further from my ideal Doesn't change Closer to my ideal

Doing hobbies, sports, or other activities *

Further from my ideal Doesn't change Closer to my ideal

Relaxing *

Further from my ideal Doesn't change Closer to my ideal

Here are a few ideas to help balance your work + life responsibilities.

Select the options you would like to try.

Select the options you would like to try.

Lean more on family and friends

Hire part-time or full-time, at-home help

Explore temporary leave from work

Reduce work hours

Look into part-time or full-time, care center options

Work and Life

If you leave your job or reduce your hours, how does that help you with work + life balance? *

If you leave your job or reduce your hours, how does that challenge your work + life balance? *

Weigh Your Options

Caregiving Choices You Are Thinking About

Before you make any big changes, you’ll want to think about how different choices might affect you financially. As you think things through, please keep your financial health in mind.

Here’s what to consider as you think about leaving your job or working fewer hours to provide more care for your care recipient:

INCOME AND EXPENSES

Your monthly income from employment is ${$budgetnumeric1}.

You work {$budgetnumeric3} hours on average.

Your estimated monthly expenses are ${$budgetnumeric4}.

Your monthly caregiving expenses are ${$budgetnumeric5}.

You dedicate {$budgetnumeric6} hours weekly to caregiving.

You estimate needing an additional {$budgetnumeric7} hours each week to provide the needed level of care.

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT

Your current savings amount is ${$savingsnumeric1}.

Your target savings goal is ${$savingsnumeric2}.

You are currently contributing ${$savingsnumeric3} on average to your savings or retirement accounts.

WORK AND LIFE

Your ideal weekly time spent working at your job is {$lifenumeric1} hours.

Your ideal weekly time dedicated to caregiving is {$lifenumeric2} hours.

Your ideal weekly time for family activities is {$lifenumeric3} hours.

Your ideal weekly time for hobbies and activities is {$lifenumeric4} hours.

Your ideal weekly relaxation time is {$lifenumeric5} hours.

Pros of the Decision

INCOME AND EXPENSES

{$incomeshortanswer1}

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT

{$savingshort1}

WORK AND LIFE

{$workshort1}

Cons of the Decision

INCOME AND EXPENSES

{$incomeshortanswer2}

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT

{$savingshort2}

WORK AND LIFE

{$workshort2}

Actions to Consider

INCOME AND EXPENSES

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT

WORK AND LIFE

Resources

INCOME AND EXPENSES

Should You Leave Work to Care for Someone You Love?
Can I Get Paid to Be a Caregiver for a Family Member?

SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT

AARP Retirement Calculator

WORK AND LIFE

Report: 67% of Family Caregivers Have Difficulty Balancing Work and Life Duties
How much does Long Term Care Cost?

Print your results >

AARP Foundation strengthens financial resilience for and with older adults by empowering individuals and improving systems. Learn how you can get involved and find help.

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