Landmark Legislation: RAISE Family Caregivers Act

The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act has been signed into law on January 22, 2018. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will address the needs of our nation’s family caregivers through the development and implementation of a coordinated national strategy.

The new law directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a national strategy to provide education and training, long-term services and supports, and financial stability and security for caregivers.

Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association Chief Public Policy Officer and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Executive Director, stated: “The development of a national strategy will have an immense impact on family caregivers. Enhancing assistance for family caregivers will result in improved caregiver health and well-being and will result in a higher quality of care for their loved ones.” Caregivers of people with dementia report higher levels of stress, depression and worse health outcomes than those providing care to individuals without dementia. As a result, Alzheimer’s caregivers incurred $10.9 billion in additional health costs last year.

A Family Caregiving Advisory Council will be created by HHS as directed by the RAISE Family Caregivers Act.

This will be similar to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Council, both of which are closely modeled after the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. Since being introduced in Congress, there have been strong advocates for this Caregivers Act, having held thousands of congressional meetings to secure support for the legislation. The Association and AIM will continue to play an active role in the process as HHS works to develop and implement the national strategy.

The AARP released info on RAISE that can be read here.