Rhode Island’s family caregivers provide an estimated $2.8 billion worth of labor each year, the vast majority of it unpaid, according to a new report from AARP.
The report, “Valuing the Invaluable 2026,” finds that 155,000 Rhode Islanders care for older parents, spouses, neighbors, and other loved ones, contributing 111 million hours of care annually. That work would be valued at $25.07 per hour if paid in the marketplace.
“Family caregivers are a major economic force that fills critical gaps in our health care system,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “The economic value they provide now exceeds $2.8 billion annually, yet this care often comes at high cost to caregivers’ health and financial security, and well-being.”
The report also highlights how caregiving has grown more demanding in recent years. Family caregivers now average 27 hours of care per week, and more than half — 57% — provide what the report describes as high-intensity care, which includes help with daily tasks like bathing and dressing as well as complex medical tasks such as wound care and administering injections.
Nationally, the report finds that 59 million Americans are caregivers of adults, contributing 49.5 billion hours of care annually — work valued at $1.01 trillion per year. That total exceeds combined federal, state, and local Medicaid spending nationwide.
AARP noted that without family caregivers, many more Rhode Islanders would rely on costly institutional care, driving up expenses for taxpayers and public programs. The organization pointed to recent advocacy efforts in Rhode Island, including enhancements to the state’s Temporary Caregiving Insurance program that increased wage replacement and expanded the number of weeks someone can take annually to eight.
Rhode Island caregivers can access local support services by calling 211 or through AARP Rhode Island’s resource guide at aarp.org.