According to a new AARP report, there are 710,000 family caregivers of adults in Connecticut that contribute 460 million hours of care annually. The report finds that Connecticut’s family caregivers now provide $10.7 billion worth of labor each year. Most of this work is unpaid, yet it forms the backbone of the nation’s long-term care system that is essential to helping millions of older adults live independently at home.

Why does this matter? Without family caregivers, many more Connecticut residents would rely on expensive institutional care, driving significantly higher costs for taxpayers and public programs. AARP is elevating this important issue and fighting to save family caregivers time and money.

AARP Connecticut is currently advocating for a modest Connecticut Caregiver Tax Credit to help offset qualified expenses incurred by family caregivers, who on average spend $7,200 annually out of pocket. This measure has bipartisan support as it moves through the legislative process.

Family caregivers are a major economic force that fill critical gaps in our health care system. The care and significant economic value they provide often comes at great cost to caregivers’ health and financial security, and well-being.

The full report is available at www.aarp.org/valuing.

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

• 710,000 Connecticut residents are caregivers of adults, providing care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 460 million hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $10.7 billion per year if paid in the marketplace, based on a value of $23.45 per hour.
• Across states, the estimated value of caregiving ranges from $14.12 per hour in Louisiana to $27.05 per hour in Washington, reflecting regional differences in wages and the cost of care.

National Findings:

• 59 million Americans are caregivers of adults, providing care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 49.5 billion hours of care annually, work that would be valued at $1.01 trillion per year if paid in the marketplace, based on a value of $20.41 per hour.
• The 49.5 billion hours of care provided each year is the equivalent of nearly 24 million full-time workers, roughly 17 percent of the entire U.S. full-time workforce.
• The value of family caregiving exceeds total federal, state, and local Medicaid spending nationwide, and almost doubles all out-of-pocket health care spending.

Caregiving has become more demanding and complex as chronic illnesses rise and more care shifts into homes:

• Family caregivers are spending more time providing care, averaging 27 hours each week.
• More than half, 57 percent, now provide high-intensity care, meaning that they spend more hours helping with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, as well as complex medical and nursing tasks like wound care and administering injections.

AARP also helps families navigate caregiving challenges by connecting them to trusted resources. AARP Connecticut’s resource guide helps family caregivers access key programs, services, and agencies right in their community. The resource guide can be found at www.aarp.org/states/connecticut/caregiver-resources. In addition, through its partnership with United Way Worldwide, caregivers can access local support services in Connecticut, as well as 27 other states, by calling 211, including help finding in-home care, respite care, transportation, and other essential services. To find out more, visit www.aarp.org/caregiving.