Family Caregivers in Massachusetts Provide $15.1 Billion in Unpaid Care to Loved Ones

The unpaid care provided by the 780,000 caregivers in Massachusetts is valued at $15.1 Billion according to new state data available in AARP’s latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series aarp.org/valuing. This is a $3.1 billion increase in unpaid contributions since the last report was released in 2019. The report highlights the growing scope and complexity of family caregiving and highlights actions needed to address the many challenges of caring for parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

“Family caregivers play a vital role in Massachusetts health care system, whether they care for someone at home, coordinate home health care, or help care for someone who lives in a nursing home,” said Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts State Director. “We want to make sure all family caregivers have the financial, emotional and social support they need, because the care they provide is invaluable both to those receiving it and to their community.”

AARP Massachusetts is fighting and will continue to fight for family caregivers and the loved ones they care for.

Right now, AARP Massachusetts is urging lawmakers to bring much needed financial relief to family caregivers who pay for expensive care to help their loved ones live at home. HD 2376/SD 936, An Act to Establish the Family Caregiving Tax Credit, would create a refundable $1500 tax credit to cover expenses incurred by a taxpayer for the care and support of a qualifying family member. The tax credit would help address the financial challenges of caregiving and allow more unpaid family caregivers to keep their family members in the community.

AARP Massachusetts members look forward to sharing their personal experiences caring for older loved ones and how the tax credit would help them offset some of the costs when a hearing on the bill is scheduled.

Read the full report aarp.org/valuing for national and state-by-state data on the economic value of unpaid care by family and friends.

Resources and information on family caregiving are available at aarp.org/caregiving.