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Washington Value:
Percentage of population age 15 and older who reported providing unpaid care or assistance to an adult age 65 or older who needed help because of a condition related to aging
Washington Rank:
Appears In:
Percentage of population age 15 and older who reported providing unpaid care or assistance to an adult age 65 or older who needed help because of a condition related to aging
US Value: 14.3%
Top State(s): New Mexico: 7.5%
Bottom State(s): Louisiana: 19.8%
Definition: Percentage of population age 15 and older who reported providing unpaid care or assistance to an adult age 65 or older who needed help because of a condition related to aging
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 2021-2022
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
While many older adults receive the additional care they need in assisted living facilities or from home health services, unpaid elder care is also often provided by family members, friends or volunteers. Caregiving may involve assistance with grooming, cooking, cleaning and transportation, as well as providing companionship. Those providing unpaid care for loved ones they don’t live with dedicate an average of 23.7 hours a week to caregiving, while those living with the care recipient dedicate an average of 37.4 hours weekly.
In the two-year period of 2021-2022, there were 37.1 million unpaid elder care providers in the United States, 59% of whom were women. Studies have found that lacking adequate care options for loved ones hinders many women from fully participating in the workforce. As the U.S. population ages and continues to expand, the demand for elder care will also increase. By 2030, 20% of the population will have reached retirement age, increasing the need for elder care.
Unpaid caregivers face various challenges, including financial strain, worse health outcomes, caregiver burnout and higher rates of anxiety and depression. According to the AARP, the value of care provided by unpaid family caregivers in the U.S. in 2021 was $600 billion — a $130 billion increase from 2019.
The prevalence of unpaid elder care is higher among:
Addressing unpaid elder care in the U.S. requires implementing policies and programs that support caregivers. Expanding tax credits for family caregivers is one way to provide financial support. The proposed Credit for Caring Act offers a nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for eligible working family caregivers, reducing the financial burden they may face due to caregiving expenses.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program allocates funds to states and territories to assist family members and other informal caregivers in caring for older adults at home for as long as possible. Services include individual counseling, caregiver training, respite care and supplemental services, among others. Research indicates that these services strengthen the health and well-being of caregivers and enable them to provide care for longer.
Providing training and education programs for caregivers is essential for improving their skills and mitigating the burden of stress they might face. The American College of Physicians has a toolkit for physicians and caregivers on informal caregiving. This toolkit offers training, best practices and additional resources to help physicians connect with their patients’ caregivers to share knowledge and support.
The AARP also offers a variety of resources to support individuals caring for their loved ones, including coping strategies, caregiving toolkits and tips for unique challenges such as dementia. The Family Caregivers Alliance provides educational resources and caregiver training as well.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives aimed at supporting caregivers, including:
Cohen, Steven A., Zachary J. Kunicki, Caitlin C. Nash, Megan M. Drohan, and Mary L. Greaney. “Rural-Urban Differences in Caregiver Burden Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among a National Sample of Informal Caregivers.” Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 7 (January 2021): 233372142110251. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214211025124.
Fields, Beth, Juleen Rodakowski, Vanessa D. Jewell, Sajay Arthanat, Melissa Park, Catherine Verrier Piersol, Stacey L. Schepens Niemiec, Jennifer Womack, and Tracy M. Mroz. “Unpaid Caregiving and Aging in Place in the United States: Advancing the Value of Occupational Therapy.” The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 75, no. 5 (September 1, 2021): 7505347010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.044735.
Livingston, Gretchen. “Older Women and Unpaid Caregiving in the U.S.” Issue Brief. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, November 2023. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WB/WBIssueBrief-OlderWomenAndUnpaidCaregiving.pdf.
Schulz, Richard, and Paula R. Sherwood. “Physical and Mental Health Effects of Family Caregiving.” AJN, American Journal of Nursing 108, no. 9 (September 2008): 23–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000336406.45248.4c.
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