More than 1 in 4 people age 50 and older helps take care of at least one family member or friend who has a health issue or disability, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan.

In all, 23% of caregivers are caring for an adult or child with an intellectual or developmental disability, and 66% are caring for a person age 65 or older.

The most common health issue or disability that caregivers help their friends or family with was a physical disability or mobility challenge, at 59%. The next most common was memory or thinking issues, at 42%, followed by vision or hearing impairments at 28%, and mental health concerns at 22%. Beyond these specific types of issues, 40% of caregivers said they care for someone with another condition. Caregivers could choose all conditions that apply to all the people they care for.

The poll shows that 61% of those providing care to family or friends with a health condition or disability don’t know about Area Agencies on Aging, or AAAs.

AAAs are local or regional organizations that can offer support to caregivers and to people over 65 and some people with disabilities. They typically receive some of their funding from the federal government, and some receive state funding.

Lack of awareness of AAAs was even higher among people who are not caregivers, at 70%.

More information is available in the University of Michigan news release here.