Senate Votes to Extend National Family Caregiver Support Program

The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (H.R.4334), passed earlier this year by the US Senate, includes a reauthorization of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). The NFCSP provides information to caregivers about available services, assistance in accessing services, individual counseling, support groups, caregiver training, respite care, and supplemental services. The Senate passed the bill with changes not in the already-passed House version and sent it back to the House to approve the changes.

The legislation removes a 10% cap on funding for services for “older relative caregivers,” a term that includes family caregivers of adults with disabilities ages 18-59. It defines ‘caregiver assessment,’ and updates the support services to ensure that these services take into consideration information received from such assessments. The bill also requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to identify best practices for caregiver assessments, and allows the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award funds for activities of national significance that improve support provided to caregivers, including for program evaluation, training, technical assistance, and research.

FMI: To read or track the legislation go to https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/4334/text?format=txt&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22%5B2019-01-17+TO+2019-01-17%5D%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=1.