According to the Caregiving in the Black Community guide from The Senior Alliance, 66% of Black caregivers are women, providing an average of 31.2 hours of care per week. 
That’s nearly nine hours more than the national average. Because of their intense labor, they face higher rates of burnout, limited access to support, and systemic barriers to care.
To explore the cultural and structural forces behind this crisis, we spoke with Dr. LaToya Lewis, a nationally recognized nursing professor and healthcare equity strategist.
Table of Contents
Why Black Carry the Heaviest Caregiving Load
While broader analysis on Black Caregiving includes many experiences, Black women often carry the heaviest load.
Dr. Lewis describes how the stigma surrounds even basic expressions of need. “There is a taboo surrounding the need for support in raising a family and managing multiple responsibilities,” she explained.
“Black women are expected to do everything and be everything to everyone, yet no one accounts for how they are to be cared for in return or allowed to need rest.”
If Being Tired is Unacceptable, Burnout is Inevitable
In these environments, being tired or needing help becomes unacceptable. This contributes to silence around mental health challenges, reduces help-seeking behaviors, and erodes safe spaces for caregivers to advocate for their wellness.
Aside from personal impact, caregiver burnout is also a systemic health equity issue. “Primary prevention activities, such as wellness checkups, follow-up care, or managing underlying illnesses, are often neglected because most of their efforts go toward caring for loved ones,” Dr. Lewis said.
Caregivers Sacrifice Their Health
According to the AARP Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 report, nearly 1 in 4 caregivers struggle to care for their health due to caregiving responsibilities. Black caregivers are also more likely to give up paid employment to care for loved ones, citing a lack of affordable and quality care options.
Among caregivers under age 50, 36% of Black caregivers are part of the “sandwich generation,” simultaneously caring for children and aging adults.
Fragmented healthcare, limited access to culturally competent mental health providers, and a lack of training for family caregivers further deepen this divide. “Black and brown communities are at higher risk due to economic divides and systemic barriers in healthcare and mental health support,” she added.
Counting the Emotional and Psychological Costs of Caregiving
Dr. Lewis confirms what data also shows: Black women disproportionately take on intense caregiving roles with fewer supports. “This aligns with my experience interacting with caregivers involved with end-of-life care and palliative care,” she noted.
“These individuals manage the tasks of caregiving, working, and the expectation to perform at a high level,” Dr. Lewis shared. “This can lead to a wearing ‘mask’ at work as they put on a high-performing act, continue to meet objectives, and neglect their needs.”
Behind professional success, many are managing high-functioning anxiety and depression with little rest or reprieve.
The 2025 report found that 64% of caregivers report high emotional stress, and 45% report heavy physical strain, with Black women caregivers disproportionately affected.
Organizations Need Leaders With Emotional Insight
Supporting caregivers requires organizational leadership that prioritizes care, not just output. “Leadership that honors emotional well-being, cultural wisdom, and care-driven values requires emotional intelligence, cultural responsiveness, and cultural sensitivity,” Dr. Lewis explained.
She advocates for leaders who initiate check-ins, anticipate needs, and recognize when cultural norms may discourage vulnerability. “Being proactive, not just reactive, lets staff know you care about their holistic well-being,” she said. “Employees who feel supported by leaders focused on overall well-being will take better care of themselves and understand they are valued beyond being a number.”
Organization Need to Create Safe Spaces to Discuss These Issues
Dr. Lewis’s leadership reflects this philosophy across settings. Whether in the ICU or the classroom, she centers mentorship, emotional safety, and community uplift. “What redefined my understanding of leadership was realizing that my role extended far beyond managing operations and patient care deliverables,” she shared.
Now, she supports future nurses and doctoral students not just with academic guidance, but personal care. “Students who aren’t in my class often reach out to me for career advice or guidance,” she said.
“I strive to create a non-judgmental, empowering environment that focuses on what is most important to them, helping support them in their journey.”
Provide Caregivers With Tangible Support
As caregiving demands intensify, advocates are calling for targeted policy solutions. These include federal caregiver tax credits, expanded paid leave, and respite services that reflect the actual time and emotional toll of care. According to the 2025 report, 69% of caregivers support tax credits, and 55% support paid leave programs.
Dr. Lewis believes recognition is the first step. “We have to stop treating care as a personal problem to solve and start seeing it as a public responsibility.”
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