Nearly 40 percent of family caregivers are experiencing financial strain while half of those report the burden of these duties is severe, the AARP Public Policy Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving announced Thursday in a new study.

In addition to performing functions for their loved ones, 56 percent of the 43.5 million adults providing services for infirm family members also have full-time jobs.

The caregivers said their home efforts have hurt them on the job. They work fewer hours and they have received warnings about their performance and for taking leaves of absence.

The authors of the study said the data they compiled suggests some family caregivers quit their full-time jobs to devote more time to their loved ones. Some quit and become self-employed to bring in income.

For the report, 1,250 family caregivers were interviewed between September 11 and November 5 of last year.