To provide education about the challenges family caregivers face and advocate for policies that support them, U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA), a geriatric nurse practitioner and veteran, and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), along with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), relaunched the bipartisan Assisting Caregivers Today Caucus in June 2023.
Nearly 20 million adults in the United States require assistance completing self-care and other daily tasks because of physical, cognitive, developmental, and/or behavioral conditions, and the majority of people who require care would prefer to receive it in their home or another community-based setting. Family, friends, and neighbors make up 53 million caregivers across the country, with family caregivers’ economic contribution being valued at $600 billion.
“In southeast Virginia and throughout the country, family caregivers play a vital role in the lives of millions of Americans,” Kiggans said. “As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I had the privilege of caring for our greatest generation as they aged; I know firsthand how essential caregivers are when it comes to ensuring our older Americans can age gracefully and have fulfilling, independent lives. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advocate for our care providers and their families.”
“More than half of Americans aged 50 years and older will serve as family caregivers for a period of time, and family caregivers need our support,” Dingell said. “I’m proud to launch this caucus with my colleagues to help educate lawmakers about the depth of the caregiving crisis in America and work toward fixing it.”