The Worth of Family Caregivers | AARP

Thanks to strong advocacy work by AARP and others, we have made significant progress in recent years at the federal and state levels to increase support for family caregivers. But the demand continues to grow, and much more needs to be done.

AARP strongly supports the comprehensive National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers that emerged from talks between advocacy groups and the Department of Health and Human Services in September.

Congress is expected to pass parts of that strategy into law this year, and AARP urges lawmakers to help family caregivers with financial and emotional challenges. This includes providing better access to ­respite care, along with paid leave and family caregiver tax credits and reimbursement programs.

At the state level, a total of 45 states and territories have CARE Act laws in place that support family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. We’re working with states to explore ways to offset the financial costs of caring for a family member, including caregiver tax credits or other reimbursement programs. And we’re advocating for paid family leave and paid sick leave for employees.

As we observe Older Americans Month this year, let’s remember that we must treat family caregivers as the valuable resource they are by providing them with the financial and emotional support they need to care for loved ones while caring for themselves.