Caregiver Nation Summit 2024
Selma & Zack at the Caregiver Nation Summit 2024 and on Capital Hill
Did you know that November was National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM)? This bipartisan effort began in 1997 when President Bill Clinton executed the first National Family Caregivers Month Proclamation and has continued with each president since. It allows us to collectively honor and recognize the 53 million (and counting) unpaid family caregivers across the country who care for their aging or disabled loved ones, many while working full time jobs and caring for their young children as well.
In honor of NFCM and to continue efforts to raise awareness around the challenges faced by family caregivers, on November 20 and 21, the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) hosted its second annual Caregiver Nation Summit in Washington DC. We joined over 200 caregiver advocates for this incredible opportunity to listen to, engage with, and meet many advocates like us in the caregiver space. The theme for this year’s summit was “On Common Ground.” This simple yet insightful theme reemphasized the fact that all of us are susceptible to being impacted by the role of family caregiving in one way or another at some point in time. As Rosalyn Carter stated and we have mentioned in previous blogs:
“There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.”
The struggles that typically accompany the responsibility of family caregiving are oblivious to political affiliations, race, age, gender, income level, etc. And whether it hits us like a bolt of lightning following a fall or chronic diagnosis of a loved one, or gradually over years of a loved one’s declining health, it can shake the ground beneath us, making us unsteady in our direction and path forward.
We were pleased to have attended the 2024 Caregiver Nation Summit and participate in the encouraging and uplifting agenda activities that were provided. Jason Resendez, President and CEO of NAC kicked off the first day of the Summit with a rousing keynote address. That was followed by a panel discussion from actual family caregivers who opened their lives and their hearts to us by sharing their caregiver stories and challenges.
Additional panel discussions during the day included leaders from caregiver support service providers, government entities, sponsor companies, as well as advocacy organizations. Many of whom shared their personal caregiver journeys as well. A final keynote was presented by the Governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, as well as reception comments from Massachusetts Senator, Ed Markey. By the end of the day, we were well-informed, energized and ready to take on our important charge for the next day -- Capitol Hill.
On day two of the Summit, over 100 of us advocates proceeded to Capitol Hill where we met with congress members (or their congressional aides) from 24 states to advocate for the reauthorization of the Older American’s Act (OAA). Almost 60 years old, the OAA is a critical piece of legislation that provides needed support to family caregivers including respite care, in-home assistance and nutrition in the care of older adults. The primary goal of the OAA is to allow older individuals to age in place in their homes with dignity while providing supportive services to those family members who provide the care.
Our conversations with congress members included informing them of relevant caregiver data such as pointing out that unpaid family caregivers perform the bulk of care services in this country. Contrary to popular belief, it is not our long-term care facilities. We further pointed out that if family caregivers were paid for the services they provide, it would hold a price tag of over
$873 billion dollars annually, a figure that if the government had to pay would bankrupt the system. In this scenario, everyone loses – the caregiver, the care recipient and society at large.
So, how did we do? Will the OAA be reauthorized? Only time will tell. We anxiously await the vote on reauthorizing this critical piece of legislation that represents so much help for so many. In fact, 12 million older individuals benefit from services provided by the OAA every year. With that, we will leave you with a quote from NAC’s President and CEO, Jason Resendez who has stated: “Investing in family caregivers is investing in our nation’s future.”
Until the next blog! Thank you for stopping by, reading and for caring!
Resource:
New Report Reveals U.S. Family Caregivers Perform Equivalent of a Staggering $873.5 Billion Worth of Labor, Would Surpass Revenue of Top Global Companies, Reported by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, October 24, 2024.