HOW AARP IS FIGHTING FOR YOU
AARP Takes On Social Connection
MORE THAN 48 million Americans are providing ongoing care for one or more family members or loved ones—helping with everything from medications and medical care to meals, housecleaning, shopping and transportation. They do this so the older adults they love can stay in their homes while dealing with health issues. That unpaid labor is worth more than $600 billion a year. It’s critical work, but they need help. A recent AARP poll found that 72 percent of caregivers are emotionally stressed and 55 percent feel financial strain.
Here’s how AARP is fighting for family caregivers.
→ We pushed the Biden administration to issue an executive order supporting family caregivers. AARP was at the White House when the president announced more than 50 federal actions to help those caring for older adults, including expanded home-based care for veterans and a pilot program offering help for caregivers of people with dementia.
→ Our state offices are also fighting for legislative and policy changes on issues such as paid leave and tax credits for caregiving work.
→ We help families find local resources and tools through our state caregiver resource guides, which note state programs, government agencies and tools that assist caregivers. Locate your state guide at aarp.org/caregiverresourceguides.
→ Our research helps inform policymakers about the value of care by family caregivers. AARP’s 2023 report “Valuing the Invaluable” found that family caregivers provided an average of 18 hours of care per week.
→ AARP assists companies in supporting caregivers who also work full- or part-time. We share free manager trainings, tool kits and resource guides to help employers create a more inclusive, caregiver-friendly workplace.
→ The AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook provides more than 14,000 caregivers with a forum for talking through common challenges. See facebook.com/groups/aarpfamilycaregivers.
→ More than 5 million caregivers turn to AARP’s family-caregiver website annually. It features checklists and links to find support. Visit aarp.org/caregiving.
We’re asking caregivers to reach out to politicians and say, “I am a caregiver.” Learn more about AARP and caregiving at aarp.org/IAmACaregiver. —Bob Stephen, AARP vice president of caregiving and health
AARP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Chair Lloyd E. Johnson, First Vice Chair Beth Ellard, Second Vice Chair Robert Blancato, Governance Committee Chair Margot James Copeland, Joseph F. Coughlin, Jeffrey D. Dunn, Jo Ann Jenkins, Rosanna A. Márquez, Alan Murray, Julio Portalatin, Marie Quintero-Johnson, Libby Sartain, David Windley