Support when it counts
On January 22nd, President Trump signed the RAISE (Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage) Family Caregivers Act into law. For families all around the country, this is wonderful news. The RAISE Act was designed to provide awareness and assistance for family caregivers. For the 44 millions caregivers in the US, this act aims to make supporting their loved ones easier.
The nuts and bolts of it
As described by the Autism Speaks organization, “The law directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop, maintain, and periodically update a national family caregiving strategy. As a result of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, HHS will convene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to develop the national family caregiving strategy. The advisory council will include at least one family caregiver, an older adult with long-term support needs, a person with a disability, a health care provider, a long-term service and support provider, an employer, a veteran, state and local officials, and the heads of other relevant federal agencies.” While the overall aim of the strategy is to help our helpers, the strategy does include specific goals.
- Promoting greater adoption of person-centered care and family-centered care in health settings and long-term care settings
- Training for family caregivers
- Respite options for family caregivers
- Ways to increase financial security for family caregivers
- Workplace policies to help family caregivers keep working
- Collecting and sharing of information about innovative family caregiving models
- Assessing federal programs around family caregiving
- Addressing disparities and meeting the needs of the diverse caregiving population
Why we’re so thrilled
NShore Patient Advocates prides its staff on helping families and caregivers alike. This act will only help us achieve our company goals. We’re thrilled because we see the need for legislation like this everyday in our work. The healthcare maze in our country is getting more and more difficult to navigate. Additionally, Baby boomers are aging and greatly expanding the senior citizen population. People who care for their family members are needed more than ever, and the job is difficult. This act is a nod to people everywhere who are trying to take care of their loved ones, and we couldn’t love that more.
