2026 Valuing the Invaluable Report
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Summary
The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released its 2026 “Valuing the Invaluable” report. Drawing on data from the National Alliance for Caregiving’s 2025 “Caregiving in the U.S.” report, this publication highlights the economic value of family caregiving tasks.
Data estimates show that about 59 million caregivers of adults provided 49.5 billion hours of care in 2024 at an average value of $20.41 per hour. This sums to a total economic value of $1.01 trillion for all adult caregiving in 2025. Moreover, the economic value of family caregiving exceeded the total amount of federal, state, and local Medicaid spending in 2024.
Data estimates show that about 59 million caregivers of adults provided 49.5 billion hours of care in 2024 at an average value of $20.41 per hour. This sums to a total economic value of $1.01 trillion for all adult caregiving in 2025. Moreover, the economic value of family caregiving exceeded the total amount of federal, state, and local Medicaid spending in 2024.