4/02/2026

UPPER MICHIGAN - An A-A-R-P study shows that roughly one in six adult Michiganders serves as a family caregiver, often at the cost of their own emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Family caregivers in the state contribute about 1-point-3 billion hours of care each year. Paula Cunningham, the Michigan state director of A-A-R-P, says despite the effort, most caregivers say it's worth it.

                    0:15  "We hear from caregivers every single day who tell us the same thing: they are doing this out of love, but they are stretched to the limits. Many are dipping into their savings to pay for care, some are cutting back on work or leaving the workforce entirely. Caregiving is real. It's relentless."

In Michigan, more than 1-point-5 million residents provide care. If those workers were paid a wage of around 20 dollars an hour, their labor would be valued at over 27-billion dollars. Nationally, the amount is more than 1-trillion dollars.