AARP issued a press release supporting the introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. The legislation (H.R. 3759) was introduced by Representatives Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), along with original cosponsors Representatives Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (S. 1028) in the U.S. Senate in May.
The RAISE Family Caregivers Act calls for the development of a strategy to support family caregivers, bringing together the private and public sectors to recommend actions that communities, providers, government, and others can take to make it easier to coordinate care for a loved one; get information, referrals, and resources; and improve respite options so family caregivers can recharge.
“Every day, more than 40 million ordinary Americans take on the challenge of caring for parents, spouses, children, and adults with disabilities and other loved ones so they can live independently at home and in their communities,” said AARP Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy A. LeaMond. “The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to recognize and support our nation’s family caregivers. AARP appreciates the leadership of Representatives Harper and Castor, and we urge Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.”
The nation’s family caregivers assist loved ones with eating, bathing, dressing, transportation, medical tasks, managing finances, and more. Many do this while working and raising families. The unpaid care family caregivers provide—37 billion hours valued at about $470 billion annually—helps delay or prevent more costly care and unnecessary hospitalizations, saving taxpayer dollars.