More than 50 million Americans provide care to their loved ones, usually with little support.   The majority of family caregivers are working, many take care of both children and aging parents, and many lack paid leave.  That is why so many of us rely on home care workers – who are too often underpaid and without basic benefits like sick days caregiving needs – to meet our caregiving needs.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have made caregiving a priority.  Under their leadership, the United States for the first time has a plan to help with family caregiving:  The National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.  They believe everyone should be able to live with dignity at home and in their community, but they are working to improve the quality of nursing homes for those who need that option.  

The Biden-Harris Administration didn’t just put out a plan, it took action.

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The Biden-Harris Administration Provides Support

President Biden’s American Rescue Plan provided $25 billion to expand access to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), including more than $9 billion to increase home care workers’ wages.  His budget would build on that initiative, providing $150 billion for HCBS services and assistance for family caregivers. 

The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Bold Action

On April 18, 2023, President Biden issued a groundbreaking Executive Order with more than 50 actions.

• Family caregivers are getting more help in caring for loved ones discharged from hospitals and those living with dementia.  The Administration is also working to expand access to respite care and help caregivers deal with daily stresses and information needs.
• Long-term care workers will see improvements in job quality and burnout.
• Veterans will have expanded access to HCBS and personal care assistance.
• Families will have more access to high-quality, affordable child care.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Unprecedented Moves to Improve Care

On April 22 2024, the Biden-Harris took historic action – requiring that 80% of Medicaid payments goes to provide fair wages for home care workers.  Tragically, the Covid pandemic demonstrated the ongoing dangers of understaffing and the lack of infection controls.  For the first time, there will be minimum staffing standards for nursing homes, including the requirement that at least one RN be present at all times.  

The Biden-Harris Administration Will Do More in a Second Term

The Biden-Harris Administration wants to build on these accomplishments.  Their proposals include eliminating the waiting list for home-based care, providing caregivers with paid leave, and providing stipends and more support services for family caregivers of eligible veterans.

What You Can Do

• Let family and friends know about these efforts, through social media and word of mouth.  Too many Americans are unaware of the steps being taken.  A sample:  

If you are caring for a loved one, I have exciting news.  President Biden and Vice President Harris have made caregiving a real priority and they just announced new steps to improve help for caregivers, expand access for home-based services, enhance quality care in nursing homes and improve job quality for long-term care workers.  Last year, they acted to provide more resources for family caregivers.  This April, they announced actions to improve wages for home care workers and improve nursing home quality.  You can read more about it here.

• Send a letter to the editor, giving your own caregiving situation.  Samples:

#1:  As someone caring for an aging parent, I am glad to know that President Biden not only understands the financial and other challenges of caregiving but gets the need to do something about them.  He has already acted to expand access to home-based services so people like my father can remain at home.  He has taken historic action to ensure adequate staffing in nursing homes.  He also knows the importance of providing the good wages and job quality needed to attract enough home care and nursing home workers to meet our needs.  President Biden deserves our support for his caregiving initiatives.

#2:  Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said it best: “There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregiving.”  The need is growing but little was done to help…until recently.  As a family caregiver, I am so grateful that the Biden-Harris Administration has made this a top priority.  Because they are acting, I will be able to keep my mother at home and lessen the stress of taking care of my family.  

#3: During the pandemic, we saw the tragedy of nursing homes understaffed and unable to care for residents like my mother.  Those problems were there before Covid, and they continue today.  That is why I am so glad that the Biden-Harris Administration has acted to improve nursing home quality by requiring adequate numbers of well-trained staff.  For the first time, nursing homes will be required to have a minimum number of staff available to meet daily needs and an RN present at all times. These are historic steps to take to protect the lives and well-being of any of us who will need nursing home care.