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New AARP Data Shows the Value of Family Caregiving in Minnesota

A new report highlights how much unpaid care family caregivers provide each year and the challenges they face.

AARP

Published March 26, 2026

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Family caregivers play a vital role in helping loved ones live safely and independently at home. A new AARP report puts numbers behind that often unseen work and shows just how much Minnesota families contribute every year.

According to Valuing the Invaluable 2026, more than 840,000 Minnesotans provide care for an adult loved one. Together, they contribute 480 million hours of care each year. If that care were paid, it would be worth $11.1 billion annually.

Most of this care is unpaid, yet it forms the backbone of our long‑term care system.

Why family caregiving matters

Family caregivers help with everyday tasks such as preparing meals, managing medications, getting to medical appointments and assisting with bathing or dressing. Many also take on complex medical or nursing tasks at home.

Without family caregivers, many more Minnesotans would rely on costly institutional care, increasing pressure on families, public programs and taxpayers. Caregiving does not just support individuals. It helps stabilize communities and our health care system as a whole.

At the same time, caregiving often comes at a personal cost.

Many caregivers are also working. They may cut back hours, drain savings or juggle multiple responsibilities to be there for a parent, spouse, neighbor or friend. Caregivers frequently put their own health and financial security at risk while supporting someone they love.

“Family caregivers fill critical gaps in our health care system,” said Cathy McLeer, state director of AARP Minnesota. “The value of their care is significant, and so are the challenges they face.”

Caregiving is becoming more demanding

The new report shows that caregiving has grown more complex over time.

On average, family caregivers spend 27 hours each week providing care. More than half now provide high‑intensity care, meaning they spend more time helping with daily activities as well as medical and nursing tasks that once took place in clinical settings.

As more care shifts into homes, caregivers need better support to manage these responsibilities while maintaining their own well‑being.

Behind the numbers are real people

The numbers in this report represent real families across Minnesota.

Toni is one of them. When her mother was in hospice, Toni and her siblings had already used their paid and unpaid time off from work. They faced an impossible choice between being at their mother’s bedside and keeping their jobs. In the end, they could not be there when she died.

Stories like Toni’s help explain what the data shows. Caregiving is not just time and labor. It is emotional, personal and often shaped by whether families have the flexibility and support they need when a loved one’s health changes.

Supporting caregivers in Minnesota

AARP has long worked to elevate the role of family caregivers and advocate for practical solutions that help them save time and money.

In Minnesota, that includes supporting Paid Family and Medical Leave, which gives eligible workers the ability to take paid time off to care for a loved one or address their own serious health needs. This kind of support helps caregivers stay connected to the workforce while being there when it matters most.

AARP also connects caregivers to trusted, easy‑to‑use resources. The AARP Minnesota Caregiver Resource Guide helps families find local programs, services and agencies that can make caregiving more manageable.

Recognizing the value of caregiving

Caregiving has real value for families, communities and our economy. Recognizing that value is an important step toward making sure caregivers have the support they need.

To explore the full Valuing the Invaluable 2026 report and learn more about caregiving resources available in Minnesota, visit aarp.org/valuing or aarp.org/MNcaregiving.