# What we think? Our take on issues affecting the caregiving community is frequently published on our [Substack](https://fieldworker.substack.com/). We published recent changes in technology, social settings, and regulations to predict how caregiving might be affected in 2026. > Caregiving—support provided to people who need assistance due to aging, disability, chronic illness, mental health conditions, or recovery from acute events—is a cornerstone of health and social systems. This paper summarizes the state of the art in caregiving practice and research, focusing on the shifting mix of informal (family/friend) and formal (paid) care, advances in care coordination and home-based services, the growing role of digital tools, and persistent challenges including workforce shortages, caregiver burden, inequities, and fragmented financing. We highlight emerging models that integrate medical and social care, measure outcomes that matter to care recipients and caregivers, and improve safety and dignity in the home and community. {% file src="" %}