Characteristics and Health Status of Informal Unpaid Caregivers - 44 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 2015-2017

What is already known about this topic? Informal, unpaid caregivers provide important support to family members, friends, and the health care system and might compromise their own health to provide this support.

What is added by this report? During 2015–2017, approximately 20% of respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System survey were classified as caregivers. Nearly 20% of caregivers reported fair or poor health, with wide interstate variation, ranging from 11.7% to 34.4%.

What are the implications for public health practice? Because caregiving is a public health issue of increasing importance as the U.S. population ages, the health status of caregivers warrants special attention.