Sponsors (3)
Want the short version? I can break this bill down for you
This is not an official government website.
Copyright © 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Creates a new caregiver support grant program under the Older Americans Act that lets the Assistant Secretary award grants to eligible organizations to provide integrated caregiver support services. Grants must fund respite care together with other supportive services, meet accessibility requirements, allow flexible contracting, and follow defined eligibility and use rules. The provision defines key terms, specifies who can apply and how grant funds may be used, and sets standards for accessibility and service integration to strengthen supports for family and unpaid caregivers and the older adults they serve.
Inserts a new Section 415 (“Caregiver support”) into Title IV of the Older Americans Act and authorizes the Assistant Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to develop or expand integrated caregiver support services that provide respite care together with other supportive services for family caregivers.
Defines the purpose of grants: develop or expand integrated caregiver support services where a provider gives, at the same time and in an integrated setting, respite care to assist family caregivers and other supportive services or services described in section 373(b).
Specifies which entities are eligible to receive grants: a State or local government agency, a nonprofit organization, an area agency on aging, the provider of a multipurpose senior center, an institution of higher education, or a Tribal organization.
Requires applicants to submit an application to the Assistant Secretary 'at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require.'
Requires grant funds to be used to develop or expand integrated caregiver support services to provide respite care at the same time and integrated setting as supportive services or services described in section 373(b) for family caregivers.
Who is affected and how:
Family and unpaid caregivers: Direct beneficiaries; the program aims to expand access to respite combined with supportive services (training, counseling, care coordination), reducing caregiver stress and improving their ability to sustain care.
Older adults and care recipients: Indirect beneficiaries; better-integrated caregiver supports can improve continuity and quality of home- and community-based care and may reduce crisis events that lead to institutionalization.
Service providers and nonprofit organizations: Potential applicants and implementers; Area Agencies on Aging, community-based organizations, home- and community-based service providers, and respite providers can apply for grants or partner as contractors, gaining resources to deliver integrated services but also shouldering administrative and compliance responsibilities.
State and local agencies: May partner or apply for grants; local delivery systems could see expanded caregiver services but might need to adapt intake, referral, and coordination processes to meet accessibility and integration requirements.
Federal program administration: The Assistant Secretary must establish selection, oversight, and reporting processes; implementing the program requires administrative capacity within the relevant federal office.
Positive effects: increased respite capacity, more holistic supports for caregivers, improved access for underserved populations through accessibility rules, and greater use of partnerships to deliver services.
Challenges and tradeoffs: authorized program needs appropriations to have operational impact; applicants may face new administrative and compliance burdens; maintaining service quality and measuring outcomes will require monitoring and reporting resources. Coordination with existing caregiver and aging services programs will be important to avoid duplication and to maximize service integration.
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress November 20, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate