WASHINGTON – The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday released a national strategy to support family caregivers who care for loved ones of all ages. The RAISE (Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage) Family Caregiving Advisory Council—comprised of family caregivers, health and long-term providers, and others—and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren developed the strategy. AARP urges swift action on this multifaceted strategy to get family caregivers the help they need in assisting older parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

“AARP fought to establish the RAISE Council, and we applaud the release of this new national strategy to support family caregivers,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “The 48 million Americans helping their adult loved ones every day are the backbone of our long-term care system – they need and deserve commonsense supports at the federal, state, and local levels.”

The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers outlines nearly 500 federal, state, local and other stakeholder actions that would support family caregivers, including:

• Increasing access to relief from caregiving duties through respite services provided by AmeriCorps Seniors—so family caregivers can take a break to recharge.
• Including family caregivers in the hospital discharge planning process with their loved ones. AARP has already led the charge in 45 states and territories to enact the CARE Act, which requires hospitals to involve family caregivers in the hospital discharge process, and train them in any medical tasks that must be performed at home.
• Identifying family caregivers in electronic health records and state information systems to provide better coordination and support.
• Providing more and better information and resources for family caregivers.

In addition to the strategies noted above, AARP urges Congress to provide family caregivers with some financial support by passing the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which would create a tax credit for eligible working caregivers who spend money out of their own pockets to care for their loved ones. We also look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to support family caregivers more broadly, including in Medicare. AARP will continue to work with state lawmakers across the country to enact policies that support family caregivers, including: paid family and sick leave; increased access to affordable, high-quality help at home by expanding home- and community-based services; state family caregiver tax credits, reimbursement programs, or other financial support; and strengthened financial and legal protections through updated guardianship and power of attorney laws.

More information about and resources for family caregivers are available at aarp.org/caregiving.

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.