About the caregivers: The featured caregivers are paid collaborators of Otsuka who have shared their stories as a part of Otsuka's Still Here conversation series, to shine a light on the caregiver experience.

Family caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimer's and dementia could earn a six-figure salary if paid for their daily services, according to a new study from Salary.com sponsored by Otsuka.

🫂Why it's important: A staggering 45 million caregivers in the U.S. contribute billions in unpaid care annually, with over 11 million Americans providing unpaid care specifically for Alzheimer's dementia patients.

Caregivers take on tasks the healthcare system isn't equipped to handle, from nursing to financial counseling, all while grappling with financial and emotional strain.

• "I feel like we are one major house repair away from devastation or one medical emergency that could throw a wrench into our financial cushion," said Carlos, caregiver to his father who lives with Alzheimer's disease.

📈 Key numbers: The Alzheimer's Association reported that the estimated lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia was around $400,000 in 2023.

• Alarmingly, 41% of caregivers had a household income of $50,000 or less in the same year, leaving many caregivers unequipped for this financial strain.

Take note: A Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health study, sponsored by Otsuka, shows unpaid caregiving amounts to $873.5 billion annually — on par with the world's largest enterprises. These estimations show a substantial increase over recent years.

🩹The impact: Many caregivers sacrifice personal and professional opportunities, while unexpected expenses like medical supplies and home repairs quickly accumulate.

• "I've had to make a few sacrifices to take care of my parents and to be a caregiver, one of them being a full-time job," said Bailey, a "sandwich generation" caregiver, who lives with and cares for her pre-teen daughter, her father who has dementia and her mother who has a traumatic brain injury.
• "People just don't really talk enough about the cost of caring for your loved one. Pull-ups and gloves and trash bags, and all of those things. Those are definitely the type of expenses that you don't think of that really add up," said LeAnn, former caregiver to her late husband, Jeff, who passed away this year after being diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's roughly three years ago.

🧑‍⚖️ The positive news: Policymakers are beginning to recognize caregivers' crucial role in evolving care delivery and payment models.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) new Guiding and Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model aims to support people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers.

The details: The GUIDE Model is the first model from CMS that actively considers caregivers' roles.

• The voluntary nationwide model focuses on care coordination and care management, caregiver education and support, and respite services — a promising step forward.

Plus, plus, plus: Several states are expanding training, certifications and requirements for family members and friends to provide self-directed care or home health aide programs.

🤝 Here's the deal: Comprehensive and systemic change demands a more assertive and collective approach.

• Employers need to leverage existing policies and introduce new benefits for caregivers.
• Investing in the long-term care workforce is crucial, including better training, higher wages and adjusting staffing requirements for both institutional and community-based care.

The takeaway: The $873.5 billion value of unpaid caregiving isn't just a number — it's a call to action.

• Policymakers, employers and society at large must act urgently to support this invisible workforce.
• Without comprehensive reform, the looming caregiver crisis threatens both families and the broader economy.

❤️‍🩹 Looking ahead: As the population ages, innovative solutions — from expanded employer benefits to government support programs — will be crucial in making caregiving more sustainable and equitable.

Discover Otsuka's caregiver commitment.

About Otsuka

Otsuka is a healthcare company driven by our purpose and defined by our beliefs. At Otsuka, we hold a deep respect for the value of every mind. We are dedicated to caring for caregivers—standing with them, the way they stand with their loved ones—and offering the tools they need for the health of others and themselves. As we work to understand and share the stories of caregivers and support them on their journeys, we will continue advocating and calling for industry changes to improve their and their loved ones' quality of life.

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