Valuing the Invaluable 2015 Update: Undeniable Progress, but Big Gaps Remain

Family caregivers are an essential part of the social, health, and economic fabric of the U.S. But family caregiving often comes at substantial costs to the caregivers themselves, to their families, and to society.  Without family-provided help, the economic cost to the U.S. health and long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems would skyrocket.

Part of the Valuing the Invaluable series on the economic value of family caregiving, this report updates national and individual state estimates of the economic value of family caregiving using the most current data available.  In 2013, about 40 million family caregivers in the U.S. provided an estimated 37 billion hours of care to an adult with limitations in daily activities. 

The estimated economic value of their unpaid contributions was approximately $470 billion in 2013, up from an estimated $450 billion in 2009.  The report also explains the key challenges that family caregivers face, highlights key policy developments for family caregivers since the last Valuing the Invaluable report was released in 2011, and provides policy and research recommendations to better support caregiving families.

Blogs

Accelerating the Pace of Change for Caregiving Families by Lynn Friss Feinberg

What are We Doing to Support our Valuable Family Caregivers? by Susan Reinhard

Also of Interest:

Insight on the Issues - Valuing the Invaluable: 2011 Update, The Growing Contribution Costs of Family Caregiving

Fact Sheet - Valuing the Invaluable: 2011 Update, The Economic Value of Family Caregiving in 2009

Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update

Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update - Detailed Methodology, Data Year 2008

Issue Brief - Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2006

In Brief - Valuing the Invaluable: A New Look at the Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2006

Data Digest - State Estimates, 2006

Valuing the Invaluable: Caregivers and the Economic Value of Caregiving, by State, 2006