Click here to watch and here to download video of Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate floor introducing the bill. Her remarks can be read in full here.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation to support the health and wellbeing of family caregivers. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2030.
One in five adults – 53 million people –in the United States provide long term care to persons who are aging, disabled, or chronically ill. In Maine, there are 166,000 family caregivers who provide 155 million hours of care to loved ones each year. Additionally, there are more than 5 million children in the U.S. who provide care for aging grandparents, parents, or siblings with disabilities.
“Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. Yet, an astounding 85 percent of caregivers have not received any respite services at all. I saw this in my own family, where my mother took care of my father who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease for eight years. Respite care was almost nonexistent for her, other than that provided by family members,” said Senator Collins. “Respite care helps to reduce mental stress and physical health issues that caregivers may experience, keeping them healthy and families intact. This bill would help give family caregivers and their loved ones the support they need by ensuring that quality respite is available and accessible.”
“I was proud to serve as the primary caregiver for my grandmother as she got older, which is why I understand firsthand the financial and emotional strain of taking care of a loved one,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to deliver some much-needed relief and support for family caregivers so that when Americans step up to keep their loved ones safe and well at home, they can be confident we have their backs.”
“While the benefits of family caregiving are plentiful, caregiving can take its toll. Respite—short-term care that offers individuals or family members temporary relief from the daily routine and stress of providing care—is a critical component to bolstering family stability and maintaining family caregiver health and well-being,” said Jill Kagan, MPH, Program Director of the ARCH National Respite Coalition. “We thank Senators Collins and Baldwin for their commitment to children and adults living with disabilities and chronic conditions, older adults in need of assistance and support, and the loved ones who care for them.”
Specifically, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would:
According to AARP, more than a third of family caregivers report wanting support like respite services, yet only 14 percent receive them, even as research indicates that caregivers who use respite have lower caregiver distress and better health and sense of well-being.
Respite care provides temporary relief to caregivers from their ongoing responsibilities. By protecting the health of caregivers, respite care decreases the need for professional long-term care and allows individuals who require care to remain at home. To date, 38 states have received funding through the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which provides competitive grants to states to establish or enhance statewide respite resources and help ensure that quality respite is available and accessible to all family caregivers.
Senators Collins and Baldwin championed legislation in 2020 to authorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year 2024. The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize this programming through fiscal year 2030.
In addition to the ARCH National Respite Coalition, this bill is endorsed by the Autism Society of America and the Alzheimer’s Association.
The complete text of the bill can be read here.
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