Newly Released National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers Offers Plan for Future and HCAOA Takes Action

Last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, the first-of-its-kind report to provide support to family caregivers.
 
HCAOA has pledged its full support to help execute the national strategy while also taking action of our own.

“We are launching a two-pronged effort to support family caregivers,” said HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak. “We are establishing a National Caregivers Advisory Council in conjunction with other strategic partners, which will include family caregivers, clients, and professional care professionals. This council will address many issues cited in the national strategy including supporting and actively engaging family caregivers in care planning, lessening the financial strain for family-funded home care and strengthening the role of direct care workers in providing long term services and supports.”
 
The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers provides a vision for holistic support for family caregivers through 5 shared goals and nearly 350 actions that 15 federal agencies will take in the next 3 years to implement the strategy. It also provides more than 150 specific actions that states, communities, health care systems, long-term support and service providers, and others can take to support family caregivers.
 
The five goals outlined in the strategy include: increasing awareness and outreach; building partnerships and engagement with family caregivers; strengthening services and supports; ensuring financial and workplace security; and expanding data, research and evidence-based practices.
 
The National Strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils created by the RAISE  Family Caregiving  Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, to support family caregivers with improved services.
 
According to the report, there has been no national approach to recognizing and supporting family caregivers, who make up more than 53 million people, until this point.
 
“This new report shines a light on a historically under-recognized, but significant group of people in our society and provides excellent recommendations to support those who provide care for their loved ones,” Hoak said. “Family caregivers are essential in home care. Our industry relies on family caregivers to partner with us in caring for their loved one. When the client, family caregiver, and care professional work as a team, we achieve the best outcomes.”
 
In addition to forming the National Caregivers Advisory Council, HCAOA will also continue its strong legislative advocacy efforts outlined in the 2022 State of Home Care: Industry at a Crossroads report, which calls on home care industry leaders and policymakers to unite around initiatives that address the rapidly growing demand for care and to help Americans age in their own homes with comfort, safety, and independence.
 
The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers will be open for public comment for 60 days beginning on October 1, 2022.
 
To read the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, Cross-Cutting Considerations for Family Caregiver Support, the actions federal agencies will take and recommendations for others, click here. 
 
Read a helpful infographic summarizing the report here.