AARP Study: California family caregivers provided $57 billion in unpaid care in 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 16, 2015

CONTACT:

Mark Beach

(916) 952-8569

mbeach@aarp.org

 

 

AARP Study: California family caregivers provided $57 billion worth of unpaid care in 2013

New report reveals stress on family caregivers’ health and finances; identifies policies to help support caregivers

SACRAMENTO, CA — In 2013, family caregivers in California provided 4,140,000,000 hours of care — worth an estimated $57 billion — to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013, according to a new report from AARP’s Public Policy Institute entitled Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update. The total estimated economic value of uncompensated care provided by the nation’s family caregivers surpassed total Medicaid spending ($449 billion), and nearly equaled the annual sales ($469 billion) of the four largest U.S. tech companies combined (Apple, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Microsoft) in 2013.

Family caregiving for relatives or close friends with chronic, disabling, or serious health problems so they can remain in their home is nearly universal today. In 2013, about 4.5 million family caregivers in California helped another adult loved one carry out daily activities (such as bathing or dressing, preparing meals, administering medications, driving to doctor visits, and paying bills).

 “This new report demonstrates that we need to do more to assist the millions of family caregivers in our state,” said AARP California Advocacy Director Blanca Castro. “These findings perfectly illustrate why it is so critical for the Legislature to pass ACR 38 – the California Caregiver Act of 2015 – which would create a private/non-profit funded Task Force on Family Caregiving. The task force will be responsible for finding solutions for how to effectively link family caregivers with resources and programs in their community in a simple, effective, and user friendly manner, and issuing specific recommendations to the California Legislature to improve access to services and supports for the 4 million unpaid family caregivers in our state.”

Family Caregivers in the Future

As Americans live longer and have fewer children, fewer family members will be available for older adults to rely on for everyday help in the future. The ratio of potential family caregivers to the growing number of older people has already begun a steep decline. In 2010, there were 7.2 potential family caregivers for every person age 80 and older. By 2030, that ratio will fall sharply to 4 to 1, and is projected to drop further to 3 to 1 in 2050.

Impact of Caregiving on Jobs, Money, and Health

Family caregivers report that the stress of caregiving affects their physical and emotional health, finances, and their jobs.

• More than half (55%) of family caregivers report being overwhelmed by the amount of care their family member needs.
• Nearly 4 in 10 (38%) family caregivers report a moderate (20%) to high degree (18%) of financial strain as a result of providing care.
• In 2014, the majority (60%) of family caregivers had full- or part-time jobs.

“Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update” Methodology

The estimates in this report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute are based on a meta-analysis of 11 U.S.-based surveys of family caregivers conducted between 2009 and 2014. Estimates are based on about 40 million caregivers providing an average of 18 hours of care per week to a parent, spouse/partner, or other adult loved one, at an average value of $12.51 per hour. ‘Caregiver’ is defined as an adult age 18 and older providing care to a parent, spouse, or other adult loved one with their daily activities such as bathing or dress, preparing meals, and/or managing their finances, currently or within the last month.

 

Caregiving Resources:

• AARP Caregiving Resource Center
• Caregiving in the US: 2015 Report
• Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care (October 2012)
• The ABA/AARP Checklist for Family Caregivers: A Guide to Making It Manageable (2015)
• Amy Goyer’s ABA/AARP Juggling Life, Work and Caregiving (2015)
• AARP’s I Heart Caregivers Initiative

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About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org ; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org .