60 million family caregivers face a $200 million federal support gap

More than 60 million Americans serve as family caregivers, managing professional jobs, children, and the medical needs of aging relatives. Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to detail the financial shortfalls facing these individuals. He stated that current federal funding is insufficient for the scale of the work being done.

The Older Americans Act currently provides roughly $200 million annually through the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Resendez described this amount as a small fraction of the total need. The funds support state Area Agencies on Aging, which deliver services like Meals on Wheels and respite care. Respite care allows caregivers to take breaks, while other funds cover training and peer support networks.

Resendez testified that the U.S. remains one of the few industrialized nations without a national paid family and medical leave program. He noted that 13 states and the District of Columbia have established their own programs due to the lack of federal action. Virginia is the first southern state to adopt such a measure. A national program would allow workers to maintain their employment and income while providing care.

The third policy focus involves expanding Medicare benefits for caregivers. Resendez argued that the program, created in 1965, needs modernization to reflect changes in the older adult population. He proposed stronger in-home health benefits and increased access to caregiver training. He said these changes would bring parity with Medicaid and support families across all income levels.

When asked to identify the single most beneficial policy if others failed to pass, Resendez selected Medicare reform. He explained that changes there would provide immediate relief to families. He said extending support to all income levels would fundamentally alter how care is provided in the United States.

Regarding immediate actions, Resendez urged Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, describing it as a bipartisan issue. He told lawmakers to cast the vote to secure these funds. For employers, he recommended asking employees if they have caregiving responsibilities. He said companies are not systematically collecting this data, which prevents them from designing benefits for staff who balance work and care.

The National Alliance for Caregiving continues to push for these three pillars to create a sustainable support system. Resendez emphasized that these policies aim to help caregivers provide care with dignity and equity. The testimony highlighted the disconnect between the number of Americans providing care and the federal resources allocated to support them.