AARP Thanks Congressional Lawmakers for Relaunching Caregiver Caucus

En español | We made it a top priority on Capitol Hill this year to fight for laws to support the nation’s 48 million family caregivers. So we applaud lawmakers from the House of Representatives and Senate for relaunching the Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) caucus to bring greater visibility to the challenges those who care for their loved ones face. 

“Family caregivers are the backbone of a broken long-term care system, providing $600 billion in unpaid labor each year, saving taxpayers billions,” Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a statement.  

AARP will work with the bipartisan caucus to “continue raising awareness of the value of family caregivers and the need to find commonsense solutions that will provide them with support to help their loved ones live independently in their homes,” LeaMond added.  

The caucus is being led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va). 

AARP has long fought for laws to ease the physical, emotional and financial challenges family caregivers face. We’re advocating at the state and federal levels for caregiver tax credits, respite care and paid leave, among other measures, to make caregiving easier.

And we continue to push federal officials to follow through on the 2022  National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, developed with input from AARP and others. 

Read more about our caregiving advocacy and learn about AARP’s resources for caregivers.