AARP cited in Boston Globe editorial supporting spouses as paid caregivers

The Boston Globe believes spouses should be able to be hired and paid as caregivers. The paper weighed in on a proposal AARP is backing. AARP is cited in the editorial and quoted.

A bill on Beacon Hill would allow a spouse to be hired as a caregiver if requested by the patient, just as other family relatives are permitted to serve as caregivers.

AARP Massachusetts supports An Act Allowing Spouses to Serve as Caregivers. Senate Bill no. 67/House Bill no. 216. AARP submitted testimony to the Massachusetts Legislature Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

In an editorial posted on November 14th, the Globe writes “When someone takes care of their ailing spouse, they’re often keeping the spouse out of a nursing home and reducing demand for scarce home health aides. They deserve to be compensated.”

The editorial cites AARP data about caregiving that comes from this year’s valuing the invaluable report: 780,000 family caregivers in Massachusetts provide $15 billion annually in unpaid care. Caregivers spend on average $7,200 out of pocket each year caring for loved ones.

AARP Massachusetts Director of Advocacy, Jess Costantino is quoted in the editorial “These people are doing it because … they love the person, but it’s really hard, They deserve support, and we should be building in systems that help them to do this.”

You can read the editorial here.