Caregiving Could Be a Sleeper Issue for Voters in the 2026 Midterms

While most politicians are focused on presenting their views about the economy, international relations, and affordability to voters, experts say that caregiving may be an issue that should be drawing more attention. Here is a look at why the caregiving issue is being thrust into the spotlight, and what you can do to amplify the topic.

Voters Note Importance of Providing Support for Caregivers

A recent survey from the American Association of Retired People (AARP) noted that caregiving may be a sleeper issue for voters in the upcoming midterm elections. The results revealed that most voters aged 50 and older living in the battleground states of Alaska, Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia said that they are more likely to support candidates who want to provide support for unpaid family caregivers.

The survey asked more than 800 people in each state about what was important to them this election. About 75% of all respondents in Georgia said that they want a candidate who will support caregivers. Alaska was the lowest of the battleground states, but still came in at 68% of respondents who earmarked this issue as a priority.

AARP notes that while many candidates are rightfully focused on rising healthcare costs and the Social Security funding crisis as issues important to seniors, they are overlooking the topic of family caregiving. Healthcare advocacy worker Lystra Sawney said that “The care crisis is one of the defining issues of our generation. Across the country, millions of families who care for an aging parent or grandparent, or a loved one with disabilities, are being pushed to the brink by rising costs and an economy that makes care harder to afford, and caregiving harder to sustain."

What is fueling the caregiving crisis? The U.S. is now in what is referred to as "Peak 65," the time when over 4.1 million Americans are expected to turn 65 every year through 2027. An estimated 11,200 people turn 65 every day in this country. Americans living longer naturally require more care, a duty that inherently falls on family and friends. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, unpaid labor from caregivers was valued at over $1 trillion in 2024.

"This is somewhat newer because the population's changing," said Emily Rose, president of business solutions at LegalShield. Rose explained that "The sandwich generation is evolving quickly."

The sandwich generation is the term used to describe populations caught between caring for their kids and their parents. Rose is concerned that the average age of the sandwich generation continues to drop, putting the burden on Americans just getting started in life and their career.

While there has been some chatter about legislation to help alleviate this burden, nothing has been passed into law yet. For instance, the Catching Up Family Caregivers Act of 2026 and Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026 both aim to provide caregivers with resources to continue to save for retirement.

Similarly, the Medicare at Home Act is introducing a potential Medicare Part B benefit that would cover up to 20 hours per week of caregiving assistance for activities of daily living. The Multigenerational Home Caregiver Credit Act would provide a tax credit to Americans who provide in-home care for older family members.

Role of American Business in Easing the Burden

Companies can help address this crisis by rolling out initiatives and providing resources for employees caught in the middle. A LegalShield survey demonstrated that over 85% of 1,000 human resources executives confirmed that caregiving increases absenteeism and reduces productivity. Despite 77% of companies saying that the caregiving burden hurts employee retention, they still put eldercare at 10th out of 12 on their list of benefit priorities in the near future.

HR executives rank mental health support, financial wellness, childcare support, and identity theft protection above caregiver support. Although this issue has not been prioritized, more company leaders are beginning to recognize the need for this benefit. Many companies are starting to offer voluntary benefits to employees who are also caregivers.

What can you do to elevate this topic to the forefront? The AARP urges its members to vote for candidates who will prioritize this issue. You can take this civic engagement one step further by lobbying your representatives to push for more solutions. AARP recognizes the power of seniors in the American political scene, noting that "In every national election since 2002—when citizen voting data by age became available—those 65 and older have cast ballots at higher rates than their younger counterparts."

Workers can also take on a more active role by telling their HR departments that this issue is important to them. Rose believes that "Making HR teams aware would move the dial considerably."

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