Providing meaningful support of caregivers is a growing, challenging and essential urgent need for the millions of Americans acting as caregivers elderly, disabled, injured or ill family members or friends.

Caregiving is surprisingly common. More than 51 million Americans or 31% percent of the adult population age 20 to 75 provide informal care to a family member or friend who is ill or disabled.

These caregivers are the lifelines of the people they care for and the predominant and growing long-term care system in the United States. They are a lifeline for the people they support and our long term care system and they need help. Here’s some resources and ways you can help.