AARP Pushes Congress to Help Caregivers Navigate Federal Programs

AARP led more than 100 organizations in urging congressional lawmakers Tuesday to pass legislation that would make it easier for family caregivers to access federal health and financial programs on behalf of their loved ones.

The bipartisan Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act, which AARP has endorsed, aims to eliminate red tape for caregivers who interact with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

The bill calls for federal agencies administering those programs to review their procedures, forms and communications with input from family caregivers, and report their findings and recommendations to Congress within a year.

“Caregivers say they are stressed emotionally, overwhelmed by responsibilities and financially strained,” AARP and other advocates wrote in a July 2 letter to federal lawmakers. “Time is also a top challenge for them. That’s why the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act is so needed.”

A plan to save caregivers time and stress

More than half of family caregivers engage with government agencies, community services or care providers on their loved one’s behalf, according to 2020 research by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. A quarter of those surveyed said they wanted help with completing forms, filling out paperwork and determining if their loved one is eligible for services, the letter noted.

The ABC Act, if passed, could save family caregivers time and alleviate their stress while making it easier for eligible loved ones to access benefits, AARP and other advocates wrote.

AARP has made it a top priority to fight for more support for the nation’s more than 48 million family caregivers, who do everything from grocery shopping and preparing meals to bathing, dressing, performing medical tasks and paying bills. 

We continue to push federal and state lawmakers to provide caregivers with better training, paid leave, tax credits and opportunities for respite care.

Read our letter and learn more about how AARP is fighting for family caregivers. For more family caregiving coverage, visit AARP’s Caregiver Resource Center.