New AARP Report: Family Caregiving in Louisiana Valued at $12,900 per Caregiver Annually

Family caregivers in Louisiana provide an estimated $12,900 worth of unpaid care per caregiver each year, according to a new AARP report, Valuing the Invaluable 2026. Altogether, nearly 900,000 Louisianans provide care for adults, forming the backbone of the state’s long-term care system and helping older residents live independently in their homes.

Without family caregivers, many more Louisianans would rely on costly institutional care, driving significantly higher expenses for taxpayers and public programs.

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“Family caregivers are a major economic force that fills critical gaps in our health care system,” said Denise Bottcher, AARP Louisiana state director. “The value of their unpaid care now exceeds $12,900 per caregiver annually, yet this work often comes at a significant cost to their own health, financial security and well-being. AARP is elevating this issue and fighting to help family caregivers save time and money.”

Key findings from the report – Valuing the Invaluable 2026 – include:

Louisiana

• About 900,000 Louisianans are caregivers for adults, including older parents, spouses, neighbors and other loved ones.
• Caregivers in Louisiana provide an average of 920 hours of care each year, work that would be valued at $12,900 annually if paid in the marketplace, based on an hourly value of $14.12.
• Across the nation, the estimated value of caregiving ranges widely, reflecting regional wage differences — from $14.12 per hour in Louisiana to $27.05 per hour in Washington state.

National

• 59 million Americans serve as caregivers for adults, contributing 49.5 billion hours of care annually.
• If paid, that care would be valued at $1.01 trillion per year, based on an average wage of $20.41 per hour.
• The total hours of care provided each year are equivalent to nearly 24 million full-time workers, or about 17% of the U.S. full-time workforce.
• The economic value of family caregiving exceeds total Medicaid spending nationwide and nearly doubles all out-of-pocket health care spending.