Empowering Florida’s Hidden Heroes

May is Month of the Military Caregiver – a month honoring the family, friends, and loved ones who transform their lives to provide daily care for ill and wounded military service members and veterans. In Florida, where caregiving touches every community, AARP is teaming up with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to ensure military caregivers are seen, supported, and connected to meaningful resources.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a national leader in supporting military and veteran caregivers, guided by a mission to empower caregivers, their families, and their communities through programs, partnerships, and advocacy that drive innovation and sustainable solutions. Through its flagship Hidden Heroes Campaign, the Foundation elevates the often-unseen role of an estimated 14.3 million military caregivers across the U.S., while connecting families to peer support, wellness resources, and critical financial assistance. Part of this work includes the Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Communities program, a growing network of states, cities, and local leaders committed to building caregiver-inclusive communities and strengthening access to support. Nationwide, over 300 cities, counties, and states have joined the movement. In Florida alone, 14 cities and counties, and the State of Florida itself, have signed onto the Hidden Heroes Campaign—signaling a dedication to advancing support for the military and veteran caregivers in the state.

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“Military caregivers are the backbone of support for so many of Florida’s veterans, yet too often their own needs go unseen. These caregivers face real challenges ranging from financial strain to serious impacts on their own health and well‑being.” shares AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson. “AARP Florida is proud to partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to help ensure military caregivers are recognized, supported, and connected to solutions that make caregiving more sustainable for families and communities across our state.”

“Caregiving is not a short‑term role—it is often a lifelong responsibility that requires understanding, trust, and sustained engagement from communities.” says Meredith Beck, Vice President of Government Affairs and Community Engagement at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Recognizing caregivers and ensuring they are connected to meaningful support is essential to honoring the service of both the caregiver and the veteran.”

The need for this work is significant. Florida has the second largest population of veterans in the nation, approximately half of whom are 65 years of age and older. Along with Texas and California, Florida also leads the nation with the largest number of military caregivers – estimated at over a million caregivers – providing countless care hours, often unpaid. 

Caregiving represents a major economic contribution in Florida. AARP’s Valuing the Invaluable 2026 report estimates that 4.3 million Floridians provide approximately 4.1 billion hours of unpaid labor each year—support that would be valued at $81 billion annually if paid. While these figures illustrate the scale of caregiving statewide, they also reflect the individual caregivers whose day‑to‑day experiences collectively shape the reality of caregiving across Florida.

In addition to paying tribute to military caregivers in partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, AARP Florida continues to advocate for commonsense solutions to save caregivers time and money, such as increased funding for Home and Community Based Services, improved access to caregiver support and respite care, and critical assistance and training for navigating complex health care systems for a loved one. This advocacy is complemented by the EDF’s efforts bringing vital attention to untold stories, challenges, and needs of military caregivers, including much-needed community support – reducing isolation and providing local support networks within communities.