Tell Your Lawmaker that Family Caregivers Deserve Support

AARP Hawai`i is urging state lawmakers to support House Bill 701 that would provide a much-needed tax credit for family caregivers who help their parents and other loved ones live independently in their own homes instead of being forced into exp instead of being forced into costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes.

Add your voice to help family caregivers by sending a message to your state senator and representative at action.aarp.org/secure/HI_tax_credit. You can add your personal story about caregiving to the message.

HB701 would bring some financial relief to some family caregivers who pay for expensive care out of their own pockets. Family caregivers nationwide spend nearly 20 percent of their income, on average, providing care for an older parent, spouse or other loved one – that’s more than $7,200 a year for expenses like home modifications, care at home, transportation, equipment and assistive technology, and more.

Without family caregivers, our health and long-term care systems would collapse. Hawai`i’s hard-working family caregivers provide 144,000 hours of care every year, adding up to $2.6 billion in unpaid labor annually.

“Family caregivers need commonsense solutions that will save them time and money, and provide them with more support,” says Keali`i Lopez, AARP Hawai`i State Director. “This tax credit can help make their difficult responsibilities a little bit easier.”