CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, along with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-Va.-2) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-6) re-launched the bipartisan, bicameral Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus. The caucus will provide education about the challenges family caregivers face and advocate for policies that support them.
“As someone who served as the primary caregiver for parents living with Alzheimer’s disease, I saw firsthand the stress and costs that come with family caregiving,” Ranking Member Capito said. “With the relaunch of the Assisting Caregivers Today Caucus, we are bringing needed attention to the issues caregivers of all backgrounds face. I look forward to working alongside my Senate and House colleagues as we renew our push to find bipartisan ways to lessen the emotional and financial toll for these individuals and families.”
BACKGROUND:
Nearly 20 million adults in the United States require assistance completing self-care and other daily tasks due to physical, cognitive, developmental, and/or behavioral conditions, and the majority of people who require care would prefer to receive it in their home or another community-based setting. Family, friends, and neighbors make up 53 million caregivers. Family caregivers’, including 250,000 in West Virginia, economic contribution is valued at $600 billion.
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