Summary

Creates a new grant authority under the Older Americans Act to fund eligible entities to develop or expand integrated caregiver support services that deliver respite care together with other supports. Grants may be used to design and provide respite services (including health care and child care as needed), to contract with health care or child care providers, and to deliver services in accessible formats (assistive tech, translation, ASL, etc.). Defines eligible applicants (state/local agencies, area agencies on aging, nonprofits, multipurpose senior centers, IHEs, and Tribal organizations) and provides statutory definitions for caregiver support services, family caregivers and older relative caregivers, respite care, health care and child care providers, and Tribal organizations. The measure authorizes grant-making but does not itself appropriate funds.

Key Points

• Creates a grant program under the Older Americans Act to support integrated caregiver services that include respite care.
• Allows a wide set of eligible entities (state/local agencies, area agencies on aging, nonprofits, senior centers, IHEs, Tribal orgs) to apply for grants.
• Permits grant funds to be used directly or via contracts with health care and child care providers.
• Requires services to be deliverable in accessible formats (assistive tech, ASL, translation, plain language).
• Provides statutory definitions for caregiver support services, respite care, family and older relative caregivers, health care and child care providers, and Tribal organizations.
• Specifically includes child care as a form of respite when appropriate and ties child care provider eligibility to licensing/quality standards.
• Authorizes grant-making authority but does not appropriate funds or specify funding amounts.
• Intended to expand coordinated supports for unpaid caregivers and improve access to respite across populations, including Tribal communities.

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