Health & Wellbeing

Caring for a parent, spouse, or other loved one can be a 24/7 job that is emotionally, physically and financially difficult. That’s why AARP works tirelessly to support family caregivers, striving to make your big responsibilities a little bit easier.

See our time-sensitive Action Alerts below!

By Jill Gambon

AARP is pleased to endorse the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (H.R. 3759) that will create a strategy to support family caregivers.

What’s your image of a caregiver? If you envisaged a middle-aged woman, one who is caring for an ailing parent, you wouldn’t be wrong. AARP research shows that the “typical” family caregiver is a 49-year old woman who cares for a relative.

The Caregiver, Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act takes effect March 8, requiring state agencies to develop guidance for hospitals to ease the transition back home for patients and their caregivers.

As they age, most people want to remain living in their homes for as long as they can. But will their homes safely age along with them?

Major step forward to support 844,000 Massachusetts caregivers! Now on to the Senate and the Governor’s Desk.

Excellent news! Massachusetts is one step closer to joining 38 other states in passing the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (UAGPPJA), and adopting a model set of rules to make it easier for family caregivers to provide care across state lines.

Imagine you’ve just moved to Massachusetts. Ten years ago, after sending your children off to college, you took on the responsibility of being the legal guardian of your ailing aunt, and moved her to a facility close to your home. You’ve now relocated to Massachusetts for a job opportunity, but once settled in the Commonwealth, you realize that your rights as your aunt’s legal guardian do not transfer to the Bay State. What do you do?