Supporting our seniors and the caregivers who support them

By U.S. Sen. Angus King
(I-Maine)

Maine is one of the oldest states in the country, and with our aging population, we should do all that we can to be there for our seniors and help support the family members who serve as caregivers for their elderly parents and relatives.

One of the most direct things we can do to improve the quality of life for seniors is to help support their desire to age safely in place in an accessible, affordable, and familiar environment. As more and more Mainers are choosing to stay in their own homes as they grow older, there are steps we can and should take to make independent living less burdensome.

Earlier this year, the Bipartisan Policy Center, a non-profit founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders including Bob Dole and George Mitchell, released a report which identified ways that we can improve current federal programs to support seniors who want to age in place by helping to pay for modifications, rehabilitations, or weatherization efforts. But in a classic case of government bureaucracy, the numerous and well-intended federal programs, benefits, and waivers aimed at helping older individuals age safely and independently don’t seem to be working together as well as they should. Though some federal programs are in high demand in Maine, other similar programs are not, suggesting that the complex, and sometimes redundant, web of programs may confuse seniors and in effect, limit the usefulness of the programs.

To help make things clearer, I’ve joined with Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) to introduce the Senior Home Modification Assistance Initiative Act. Our bill would establish a process to better coordinate the many existing federal home modification programs and provide more consumer-friendly information on how older American can access and use these resources. By helping aging Mainers navigate the resources available to them, the legislation aims to achieve the dual goals of helping people age safely and independently in place and expanding the supply of accessible housing.

Another way that we can support Maine seniors is by supporting their family caregivers. This week, I visited the Stewart Adult Day Center in Falmouth where I sat down with staff, community members, and their families to discuss some of the challenges facing our seniors today — and how we can help them age healthily and happily. The discussion also included the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Bath Housing, Spectrum Generations, Maine Women’s Policy Center, Penquis and Maine AARP.

Throughout the event, I heard stories about family caregivers across the state who have to balance the time and effort of supporting an aging loved one with the other demands of everyday life. And as Maine people juggle their jobs, raising children, and taking care of their elderly family members, they often have to reach deep into their pockets. According to the AARP, there are an estimated 178,000 family caregivers in Maine who spend approximately 18 hours each week to support someone in their family.

Playing the role of a family caregiver, though done willingly and readily by folks across Maine, can cause real financial strain and stress — and it deserves real attention from policymakers. That’s why I’ve put my support behind the Credit for Caring Act, which would help make caring for an aging loved one easier and more affordable by providing up to a $3,000 nonrefundable tax credit to working family caregivers.

The tax credit would cover some of the added costs caregivers incur as they look after their family members, such as travel costs for transporting a loved one, home modifications to accommodate a family member’s special needs, medication management services, and more. Family caregivers help aging people stay in their homes, rather than entering a nursing or long-term care facility, which can help to make seniors more comfortable and save money — both for seniors and for Medicare and Medicaid — in the long run.

Ensuring that all of our seniors have a safe and comfortable place to grow old can be a challenge, especially with Maine’s aging demographics — but it’s something we must continue working towards.