Eighty eight percent would be distributed to Area Agencies on Aging to provide services and assistance. This would include providing information to caregivers about available services and helping them in gaining access to these services. It would provide for individual counseling and support groups, and training to assist families in what are often unfamiliar roles. It would provide respite care and some supplemental services to be determined by the needs of caregivers. This program is designed to help family caregivers get the support that they need to continue to care for loved ones at home or in a community-based setting.
Most people prefer to receive care in their homes, rather than in institutions.
In addition to that, institutional care is more expensive. Although my bill is similar to the President's proposal, it differs by including seniors in their 60s, 70s and 80s who are caring for an adult son or daughter with a life-long disability at home. We want to allow these seniors to have access to the family caregiving resource services offered by the Area Agencies on Aging. Including these family caregivers addresses the needs of a group that is in desperate need of services but is often overlooked. This proposal is a modest investment.