Legislation extends critical support for family caregivers through 2030
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the bipartisan Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, which she introduced with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), has been signed into law. It was included with the five-bill funding package enacted this week. This legislation renews the Lifespan Respite Care Program through Fiscal Year 2030 and clarifies that individuals under the age of 18 are eligible to receive respite care services through this program. Senator Collins also secured a 10 percent increase in funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Program, bringing total program funding to $11 million. This provision was included in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, which was signed into law this week.
One in five adults —53 million people—in the United States provide long term care to persons who are aging, disabled, or chronically ill. In Maine, there are approximately 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. Additionally, there are more than 5 million children in the U.S. who provide care for aging grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities.
Respite care provides temporary relief to these caregivers from their ongoing responsibilities. By protecting the health of caregivers, respite care decreases the need for professional long-term care and allows individuals who require care to remain at home. According to AARP, more than a third of family caregivers report wanting support like respite services, yet only 14 percent receive them, even as research indicates that caregivers who use respite have lower caregiver distress and better health and sense of well-being.
“Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. Yet, an astounding 85 percent of caregivers have not received any respite services at all. I saw this in my own family, where my mother took care of my father who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease for eight years. Respite care was almost nonexistent for her, other than that provided by family members,” said Senator Collins. “Respite care helps to reduce mental stress and physical health issues that caregivers may experience, keeping them healthy and families intact. With this bill now signed into law, quality respite will remain more available and accessible to family caregivers and their loved ones.”
“Passage of the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act is a meaningful victory for family caregivers and the people they support. Extending this vital program for five more years will strengthen respite systems, ease caregiver burnout, and help families continue providing care at home. By explicitly recognizing young caregivers under age 18, this legislation affirms that caregiving knows no age—and that all caregivers deserve support. The ARCH National Respite Coalition is deeply grateful to Senator Susan Collins and Senator Tammy Baldwin for their visionary, bipartisan leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening our nation’s caregiving infrastructure,” said Jill Kagan, Director, ARCH National Respite Coalition.
To date, 38 states have received funding through the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which provides competitive grants to states to establish or enhance statewide respite resources and help ensure that quality respite is available and accessible to all family caregivers.
The complete text of the legislation can be read here.
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