HCAOA Comments on National Strategy, Stresses Importance of Engaging Family, Lowering Costs, Strengthening Workforce

Last week, HCAOA submitted a letter in response to the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) recently released National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. This strategy was created to support family caregivers of all ages, from youth to grandparents, and regardless of where they live or what caregiving looks like for them and their loved ones.
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The strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils created by the RAISE  Family Caregiving  Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, with extensive input from the public, including family caregivers and the people they support. It will be updated in response to public comments and will evolve with the caregiving landscape.
 
Based on questions ACL posed, HCAOA stressed that ACL and the Advisory Councils should place even greater emphasis the following critically important areas:

1. supporting and actively engaging family caregivers in care planning,
2. lessening the financial strain of family-funded home care, and
3. strengthening the role of direct care workers in providing long term services and supports.

 
HCAOA will continue to partner with ACL as we strive to better recognize and support family and kinship caregivers of all ages, backgrounds, and caregiving situations.