Signs of Momentum on Caregiving

It’s not every day that members of Congress spotlight the unmet needs of family caregivers. When they do, they deserve credit, which is why we wish to thank the ACT Caucus, a bipartisan group of Senate and House lawmakers that is doing just that.

Specifically, these leaders have announced plans to raise awareness in Congress, including of the need to find solutions for the physical, emotional, and financial challenges faced by family caregivers. The group is led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).

Their commitment matters because family caregivers do not get the support they need, even though they are the backbone of our nation’s system of long-term care. We need to do more, and I’m pleased to point out some recent steps in the right direction.

This is a step forward in AARP's fight for solutions that could save family caregivers time and money.  And we're seeing real momentum:

After a period of dormancy, the bipartisan ACT Caucus (full name: the Assisting Caregivers Today Caucus) jumped back to life with public statements from its chairs, all designed to raise the visibility of caregiving concerns and encourage lawmakers to push harder for commonsense solutions.  

President Biden recently announced an Executive Order directing the federal government to take key steps to support family caregivers, including military families, and their role as the frontline of the health care system.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has reminded hospitals to include family caregivers as partners in the discharge process. Too often, family caregivers are left out of the medical loop despite their growing responsibilities to provide care when a patient comes home.

More than 48 million Americans currently provide care that enables their loved ones to live independently in their homes, where they want to be, instead of being forced into nursing homes. All that effort adds up to $600 billion in unpaid labor each year, saving taxpayers billions. It is no exaggeration to say that without their devoted efforts, America’s health and long-term care systems would collapse.