Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019

To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to support family caregivers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019 2. National family caregiver support program (a) Definitions Section 372(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3030s(a) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively, and (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following: (1) Caregiver assessment The term caregiver assessment (A) provides the opportunity for the recognized caregiver to participate in such process; (B) requires direct contact with the caregiver and is used to appropriately target and tailor support services to the caregiver’s unique needs; and (C) includes reassessment of such specific needs, barriers, and existing supports conducted at appropriate intervals, including to accommodate a significant change in the caregiving situation. . (b) Program authorized Section 373 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3030s–1 (1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting which may be informed through the use of caregiver assessments, provided (2) in the first sentence of subsection (e)(3) by inserting , including caregiver assessments used in the State, mechanisms (3) by adding at the end the following: (h) Technical assistance for caregiver assessments Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019 (1) conducting caregiver assessments and reassessments; (2) implementing such assessments that are consistent across a planning and service area; and (3) implementing caregiver support service plans, including referrals to and coordination of activities with relevant State and local services. (i) Report on caregiver assessments (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019 (A) an analysis of the current use of caregiver assessments, including a repository of caregiver assessment tools or templates and comprehensive assessment protocols, as of the date of the report; (B) an analysis of the potential impact of caregiver assessments on— (i) family caregivers and older relative caregivers; and (ii) the individuals to whom the caregivers described in clause (i) provide care; (C) an analysis of the potential impact of using caregiver assessments on the aging network; (D) an analysis of how caregiver assessments are being used to identify the specific needs, barriers, and existing supports of family caregivers and older relative caregivers; (E) recommendations for furthering the use of caregiver assessments, including in rural or underserved areas; and (F) recommendations for assisting State agencies and area agencies on aging, particularly in rural or underserved areas, in implementing the use of caregiver assessments. (2) Submission Not later than 6 months after the issuance of the report under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall submit the report to the appropriate legislative committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives and to the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate. .

Summary: Supporting Family Caregivers Act of 2019 This bill directs the Administration on Aging to provide technical assistance related to, and report specified information on, caregiver assessments, which gather information related to a caregiver's specific needs, barriers, and existing supports. State programs on aging may use these assessments to inform the services provided to support caregivers.