Family Caregiving Research and Innovation Act

Summary

Provides $30 million a year for fiscal years 2026–2030 to support research and evaluation on family caregivers and changes how “family caregiver” and related program eligibility are defined in the Older Americans Act. The bill adds an explicit definition of “older relative caregiver,” removes separate statutory references to that category from program eligibility, and narrows which caregivers can receive certain respite and supplemental services, while excluding paid/contracted caregivers from the family caregiver definition.

• Authorizes $30 million annually (FY2026–FY2030) for family caregiver research and evaluation under the Older Americans Act.
• Revises the statutory definition of "family caregiver" to explicitly include an "older relative caregiver" and to exclude paid/contracted caregivers.
• Creates a standalone statutory definition of "older relative caregiver" (age 55+, lives with and is primary caregiver, with family/custody criteria).
• Removes separate statutory references to "older relative caregiver" from National Family Caregiver Support Program provisions and consolidates the category under the revised definition.
• Narrows eligibility for certain NFCS services (notably some respite and supplemental services) so those supports are limited to caregivers of older individuals who meet the relevant older-person criteria.
• Conforming edits change cross-references in program text to point to the updated definitions.
• Authorizes research funding but does not itself appropriate the $30M/year; separate appropriations action will be required.
• Implementation will require updates by state/local agencies and service providers; some older relative caregivers may lose distinct statutory recognition and access to certain services.