Home & Family

WASHINGTON, DC — Family caregivers in Louisiana provided 615 million hours of care—worth an estimated $6.5 billion—to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013, according to AARP Public Policy Institute’s new report, 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.

AARP’s Livable Communities Council, the Center for Planning Excellence and the Lt. Governor’s Office are seeking nominations for the 2013 Great Places in Louisiana awards program.

We’re familiar with the adage Home Sweet Home. But as we age, many of us not only cling to our homes but also our neighborhoods—the familiar surroundings of streets, stores, friends, businesses and community.