FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – The National Alliance for Caregiving will host Caregiver Nation Summit, its first-ever advocacy day and fly-in, to call on Congress to drive action on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers and to protect funding for caregiver support.
On October 25 and 26, NAC will bring together leaders from the caregiving, disability, aging, and patient advocacy communities to urge policymakers to strengthen our National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, a national plan released by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2022. Family caregiving advocates will hold more than 60 meetings with members of Congress during the fly-in.
“Family caregivers are not only the backbone of America’s healthcare system, they are also the backbone of our economy,” said Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “Now is the time to remind policymakers that we’re a nation of caregivers who deserve urgent action to make this critical work more sustainable, equitable, and dignified.”
More than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care for a loved one, and their numbers are growing. Family caregivers play a vital role, but often lack necessary support. Many caregivers struggle to balance their caregiving responsibilities with their work and taking care of their own health and well-being. In fact, 12 million Americans say caregiving has negatively impacted their health.
Caregiver Nation Summit is part of the NAC’s #ActOnRAISE Campaign, an effort of more than 100 state and national organizations to strengthen the National Strategy, supported by a cornerstone investment from The John A. Hartford Foundation and grants from EMD Serono, Inc. and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.
In addition to Congressional meetings, Caregiver Nation will feature:
- Remarks from Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA).
- A keynote address with Allison Barkoff, Performing the duties of the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration for Community
- The unveiling of Together In Care: The Direct Care Worker and Family Caregiver Initiative, an innovative, multi-year plan to strengthen relationships between direct care workers and family caregivers.
About the National Alliance for Caregiving
Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) is a national organization focused on making caregiving more sustainable, equitable, and dignified through research, system change programming, and advocacy. We convene more than 60 members to build a society that values, supports, and empowers family caregivers to thrive at home, work, and life. Learn more at https://www.caregiving.org
Contact: Toni Gingerelli at toni@caregiving.org or 202-697-8204
