FARGO — If North Dakota's 62,000 family caregivers were paid for the 58 million hours of care they provided in 2021, the total would be $1 billion, according to a new AARP report.
The number of caregivers in the state who look after spouses, parents, children and other relatives dropped by 6,000 people since 2019 when the report was last released. However, the value of unpaid care increased by $20 million.
“Family caregivers play a vital role in North Dakota’s 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,” AARP ND State Director Josh Askvig said in a statement issued this week.
“We know that a top priority of North Dakotans over 50 is to live independently and have access to services as they age. That is directly linked to ensuring that family caregivers — more than 60% of whom also work full or part time — have the financial, emotional and social support they need to help loved ones stay in their homes and communities,” Askvig added.
The full report is available at aarp.org/valuing . Resources and information are available at aarp.org/caregiving .
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