As the global population ages, the number of individuals living with chronic illness or cognitive impairment, and who need assistance with daily activities, is rising rapidly. By 2030, an estimated 1 in 6 people worldwide will be aged 60 years or older, and roughly 2 in 3 people who reach older age will require long-term support and care from others.1 Ng and colleagues2 identify an important, often-overlooked resource for assistance by examining the role of friends within the caregiving network.