Indiana’s 790,000 dedicated family caregivers provide 740 million hours of care every year, adding up to $10.8 billion in unpaid labor annually. (Getty Images)
As the recent election captured our attention with candidates vying for our votes, many across our state were engaged in a different, yet profoundly important job. Despite being unpaid and lacking sufficient support to ease the immense physical, emotional, and financial burdens it brings, it remains one of the most crucial roles any of us will ever undertake.
What job am I referring to? It’s the role of family caregivers, who help their aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently.
Each November, we recognize unpaid family caregivers during National Caregivers Month. These caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system. Indiana’s 790,000 dedicated family caregivers provide 740 million hours of care every year, adding up to $10.8 billion in unpaid labor annually. According to a recent AARP survey, nearly two in three Indiana adults age 45-plus have caregiving experience .