Working Across Party Lines to Get the Job Done for Family Caregivers

Supporting family caregivers is extremely personal to me. I was raised by my maternal grandparents, who stepped in to care for me when I was just two months old. They made sacrifices for me and put aside much of their lives to do what was right for me. So when my grandmother, Nana, grew older and frail, I was honored to return the favor and serve as her primary caregiver. But I was facing a daunting task.

I was in my mid-30s when I had to begin caring for Nana, and I immediately realized the emotional and financial challenges of this role. I felt that there weren’t many resources and support to help me do what was best for my grandmother.

I know how difficult the role of family caregiver can be. That is why I worked tirelessly with Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine to make a difference in the lives of caregivers and their families.

We worked together to introduce the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. We worked together to get it passed in the Senate and the House.

I am proud to say that this week our bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Trump.

In this country, there are more than 40 million family caregivers who provide long term care for their loved ones. They spend countless hours assisting with health needs, driving those who cannot drive themselves, picking up groceries, balancing checkbooks and just spending time with aging family members or people with disabilities.

Family caregivers in 2013 provided more care in uncompensated medical costs than total federal Medicaid spending that year. In Wisconsin alone, half a million family caregivers provided more than $7 billion in unpaid care.

For too long, family caregivers were an overlooked part of our national health care system.

We worked to change that.

The RAISE Family Caregivers Act acknowledges the personal and financial sacrifices that family members have made in order to care for their loved ones. This law will allow us to develop resources to assist family caregivers to ensure that our older adults and loved ones with disabilities receive the highest quality care in their own homes.

With the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, we are ensuring the creation of a national strategy to recognize and support family caregivers in the United States as members of the health care team. This strategy will allow caregivers to properly coordinate care for their loved ones, get information and resources, and take a break so they can rest and recharge.

I am thankful for the partnership of Senator Collins and the 60 aging and disability organizations who have recognized the determined efforts of America’s family caregivers, and worked with me to see this reform become a reality, including AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Arc.

Every day, family caregivers do right by their loved ones, and I am proud to say we are doing right by them.