New LightWell Care Study of 900 U.S. Employees Highlights Hidden Caregiving Demands and Strong Interest in AI Workplace Support

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — As the nation recognizes National Family Caregivers Month, a new survey from LightWell Care™ highlights the challenges employees face while caring for loved ones and the support they may need at work.

The survey of 900 full-time U.S. employees found that nearly 71% (562 of 793) of respondents who did not report having no current caregiving responsibilities said they would definitely or probably use a free, private AI caregiving assistant offered by their employer.

The findings also show how caregiving can affect employees' work, income, and career opportunities.

“Family caregiving doesn't stop when someone starts their workday,” said Kathleen Hustad, founder and CEO of LightWell Care. “Employees are coordinating appointments, navigating healthcare decisions, and responding to unexpected situations while continuing to meet their responsibilities at work. We need to better recognize this reality and provide practical support.”

The study found several ways caregiving affected respondents during the past month:

• 25% reported feeling stressed, distracted, or emotionally drained while working.
• Nearly 22% reported arriving late, leaving early, missing work, or taking unexpected time off.
• 14% reported losing pay, income, or paid time off.
• More than 16% reported passing up a promotion, new role, training, or another career opportunity.

Caregiving also reached across generations. Nearly 33% reported providing unpaid care or support to a parent, grandparent, or other older adult. Another 29% supported a spouse or partner, while 18% cared for a child with a disability, medical condition, or additional support needs.

The survey found strong interest in practical AI tools that could help employees manage caregiving responsibilities.

Among the 584 respondents who answered a question about the most valuable types of AI support:

• 42% selected help thinking through difficult caregiving decisions and next steps.
• 37% selected help preparing questions for healthcare conversations.
• 34% selected help writing messages or updates for family members.
• 32% selected help organizing schedules, appointments, and caregiving tasks.

LightWell Care is developing non-clinical, AI-supported tools to help families organize information, prepare for healthcare conversations, coordinate care tasks, and navigate next steps.

Throughout November, the company plans to share additional findings and practical resources for employers and family caregivers. LightWell Care also welcomes conversations with organizations interested in better supporting employees who care for loved ones.

Learn more at: https://lightwell.care

The 2026 LightWell Care study surveyed 900 full-time employed U.S. adults about unpaid caregiving, its impact on work, and interest in AI caregiving support.

The online survey was conducted in July 2026 through a third-party panel of U.S. employed adults. Participants were not shown LightWell Care branding.

All 900 respondents answered the main survey questions. Selected follow-up questions received 584 responses. Findings reflect participants' reported experiences and expectations. The sample's national representativeness has not been independently established. Responses about AI reflect intended, not actual, use.

Request forthcoming findings & insights: https://lightwell.care/partners/employers