November is National Family Caregivers Month, and data from the AARP shows that in 2021 there were more than 1.4 million family caregivers in Ohio, the eighth most of any state in the country, as illustrated above.

In a report released last year, the AARP calculated the value of family caregivers in each state based on an average of 18 hours of care per week at an average value of $16.59 per hour. Using that formula, AARP estimates that the economic value of family caregivers in Ohio is more than $21 billion a year.

“Recognizing and supporting family caregivers is crucial to the health and economic and social well-being of both the caregivers themselves and the people who receive their care,” the report stated. “Family caregivers provide needed day-to-day supports and services and manage complex care tasks for adults with chronic, disabling, or serious health conditions.”