The USC Schaeffer Center estimates about 5.2 million care partners provided 6.8 billion hours of unpaid dementia care in 2026, valued at $237 billion, in the USC Schaeffer Center estimate. That unpaid help exceeded medical and long-term care spending, and long-distance caregivers can check local meals, home care, rides, and respite. Unpaid dementia care means help from family and friends without pay, such as supervision, meals, rides, and household tasks. The National Institute on Aging held its 2026 Dementia Care and Caregiving Research Summit virtually March 17-19, 2026 to review progress, highlight innovation, and identify unmet care needs, according to the NIA IMPACT Collaboratory listing.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- How large is unpaid care in 2026?
- Who pays for health care and broader costs?
- Why does another count look much higher?
- What can you do from far away?
- What should you check in their community?
How large is unpaid care in 2026?
An estimated 5.7 million U.S. adults age 51 and older are living with dementia in 2026, supported by about 5.2 million care partners.
Total dementia costs reached an estimated $818 billion. Those partners provided about 6.8 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at $237 billion. That amount exceeded the $222 billion in medical and long-term care costs.
Who pays for health care and broader costs?
Of the $222 billion in health-care costs, Medicare paid about $110 billion and Medicaid paid about $44 billion. Governments covered about 70% of health-care costs, while families absorbed most broader costs, according to the peer-reviewed cost study.
Families bore about 80% of total costs when unpaid care, $23 billion in forgone earnings, out-of-pocket costs, and quality-of-life losses were included. Those losses totaled $320 billion for people with dementia plus $15 billion for care partners.
Why does another count look much higher?
A different national count finds nearly 12 million Americans provide unpaid Alzheimer's and dementia care totaling over 19 billion hours valued at over $413 billion. That count reflects a broader population and different methods than the 2026 modeled estimate.
The smaller 2026 estimate focuses on adults age 51 and older and models hours and value for that group. The larger count includes more caregivers and care situations. Use the figure that matches the age group and care definition you need.
What can you do from far away?
Long-distance caregivers can contribute through emotional support, scheduling medical appointments, researching community services, managing finances, and visiting to relieve day-to-day caregivers, according to the Alzheimer's Association guide. Pick one task you can own each month, such as bills, refills, or appointment scheduling.
Ask the local caregiver what drains the most time. Then match your remote task to that gap, such as arranging a ride or finding a meal service.
What should you check in their community?
Call the local Alzheimer's Association at 800-272-3900 or use its Community Resource Finder. Call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 to reach Area Agencies on Aging. Ask specifically about these supports: Write down the contact name, direct number, and next check date for each service you arrange.
- meals, home care, transportation, and respite
- eligibility, waitlists, hours, and fees for each service
- who to call for scheduling changes or urgent coverage
You Might Also Like
- Unpaid Dementia Care Costs in the 2026 NIA Summit Report: Cost and Access Questions for Long-Distance Caregivers
- Early Dementia Detection Across Care Settings in the 2026 NIA Report: What the Report Means for Spouses and Partners
- The 2026 NIA Workshop on Comprehensive Dementia Care Models: What Changed and What Comes Next for Adult Children
