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BACKGROUND: Informal caregiving is a crucial-albeit often invisible-part of the support system that enables older people with chronic diseases, disability, or age-related conditions to live in the community. However, providing informal care can affect caregivers' lives.

AIMS: To explore 1) the level of care intensity among older caregivers, 2) the relationship between the intensity of caregiving and the negative experiences reported by caregivers, and 3) the variations in unmet support needs depending on the intensity of caregiving.

METHODS: Between May and September 2023, we conducted a national representative survey to map informal caregivers in Sweden. A total of 25,776 older adults aged ⩾65 years were sampled. Marginal probabilities were calculated to obtain results adjusted for age, sex, and level of education.

RESULTS: A total of 15,129 people aged ⩾65 years responded to the survey (58.7%), of which 2157 were informal caregivers (14.3%). During a typical week, 68.6% of caregivers provided 1-10 h of informal care, 14.6% provided 11-29 h, and 16.8% provided at least 30 h of care. Women (63.1%) and caregivers aged ⩾75 years (64.1%) were overrepresented in the group providing high-intensity informal care. A higher intensity of care was related to reporting more negative experiences and worse health, as well as to experiencing more unmet support needs.

CONCLUSIONS: While most older informal caregivers reported low-intensity engagement and overall good satisfaction with their situation, a non-negligible fraction provides high-intensity help and has unmet needs that should be addressed by targeted interventions rather than one-size-fits-all policies.