HARRISBURG, PA — Family caregivers in Pennsylvania provide an estimated $40 billion in unpaid labor each year, contributing 2.1 billion hours of care, according to a new report released March 27 by AARP.
The report, “Valuing the Invaluable 2026,” found that about 2.2 million Pennsylvanians serve as caregivers for adults, including older parents, spouses, neighbors and other loved ones.
AARP said the work, largely unpaid, plays a central role in helping older adults remain in their homes and reduces reliance on institutional care.
Without family caregivers, more residents would likely depend on higher-cost long-term care services funded by taxpayers and public programs, the organization said.
Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania state director, said the economic impact of caregiving remains significant but often unrecognized.
“Family caregivers are a major economic force, filling critical gaps in our health care system every single day,” Johnston-Walsh said. “The economic value of their unpaid care now exceeds $40 million annually, yet caregivers too often pay the price with their own health, financial security, and well-being.”
The report estimates the value of caregiving in Pennsylvania at $19.05 per hour, with rates varying nationwide from $14.12 per hour in Louisiana to $27.05 per hour in Washington.
Nationally, AARP found that 59 million Americans provide 49.5 billion hours of unpaid care annually, valued at approximately $1.01 trillion based on an average rate of $20.41 per hour.
That level of care is equivalent to nearly 24 million full-time workers, or about 17 percent of the U.S. full-time workforce, according to the report.
AARP said the total value of unpaid caregiving exceeds combined federal, state and local Medicaid spending and nearly doubles total out-of-pocket health care spending nationwide.
The report also found caregiving demands are increasing as more care shifts to home settings.
Family caregivers now average 27 hours of care per week, and 57 percent provide high-intensity care, including assistance with daily living activities and medical tasks such as wound care and administering injections.
The full report is available at https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/valuing-the-invaluable-2026-update/.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.