“A bill to authorize grants for the support of family caregivers.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states the purposes of the Act, which are (1) to improve the ability of family caregivers to care for individuals in the home; and (2) to increase opportunities for individuals who are in need of care to remain at home and reduce or postpone the need for such individuals to receive care at an institution or hospital.
This section establishes a family caregiver grant program under the Public Health Service Act by directing the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, to award three-year competitive grants to eligible organizations (i.e., local government agencies, health care entities, or nonprofit or community organizations with experience providing specified services) for home visiting programs. The program requires grantees to conduct caregiver assessments (i.e., processes to identify family caregivers' needs, barriers, and supports via direct contact, including home visits); provide evidence-based education and training by experts on topics such as medication management, wound care, nutrition for special diets, fall prevention, behavioral health management, activities of daily living, family engagement, community resources, and self-care; offer recommendations for home modifications; identify service gaps; and refer caregivers to resources including physical/mental health care, transportation, respite care, adult day services, support groups, and legal assistance. Grantees must submit detailed applications covering outreach to high-need caregivers (e.g., those untrained in complex care or caring for individuals at risk of institutionalization), service descriptions, demographic understanding of caregiver issues, and coordination capacity; the Secretary must coordinate with the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Lifespan Respite Care Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to avoid duplication.