By Jennifer Benson, AARP Massachusetts State Director
November is National Family Caregivers Month. A time we recognize and celebrate the more than 63 million Americans, including 780,000 here in Massachusetts, who are caring for loved ones. These family caregivers make it possible for older adults and individuals with health challenges to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, where they most want to be.
In Massachusetts alone, family caregivers provide an astounding 73 million hours of care each year. That’s the equivalent of $15 billion in unpaid labor. It’s a testament to their commitment, compassion, and sacrifice.
Family caregivers are the quiet force behind our health care system. Every day, they help aging parents, spouses, siblings, and loved ones live independently, often at great personal cost. They manage medications, coordinate appointments, cook meals, and provide emotional support. The toll is real. Caregivers often face financial strain, burnout, and isolation. Yet they continue to show up day after day.
One of the most urgent needs for family caregivers is respite care; temporary relief that allows them to rest, recharge, and attend to their own health and well-being. Without it, caregivers risk burnout, depression, and physical exhaustion. Yet access to respite care remains limited and expensive, leaving many caregivers to shoulder the burden alone.
Respite care isn’t just about taking a break. It’s about sustainability. Studies show that caregivers who receive regular respite are more likely to continue providing care over the long term, reducing the need for costly institutionalization. It also improves outcomes for care recipients, who benefit from refreshed and emotionally present caregivers.
That’s why AARP Massachusetts is supporting An Act Supporting Family Caregivers on Beacon Hill. Introduced by Representative Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg), Representative David Rogers (D-Cambridge), and Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), this legislation provides a range of supports designed to reduce the burden on caregivers. Its key features include respite care vouchers, which would help families afford short-term professional care for their loved ones, giving caregivers the essential time they need to rest or handle other responsibilities.
The act goes beyond simply providing respite care by tackling the financial and workplace challenges that family caregivers encounter. It proposes a range of solutions, including income tax credits to help offset the costs associated with caregiving, and extends unemployment insurance eligibility to those who must leave their jobs to provide care for loved ones. Additionally, the legislation introduces workplace protections to prevent discrimination based on caregiving responsibilities, ensuring that caregivers are not penalized in their employment. The act calls for the establishment of a permanent commission dedicated to studying and responding to caregiving needs across Massachusetts.
These measures recognize that caregiving is not a private issue; it’s a public one. When caregivers are supported, entire communities benefit. Health care systems are less strained, employers retain valuable workers, and families stay together longer.
AARP has long championed the rights and needs of family caregivers. Family caregivers need commonsense solutions that will save them time and money and provide them with more support. You can find more information at aarp.org/caregivingma.
If you’re a caregiver—or know someone who is—consider reaching out to your legislator to support An Act Supporting Family Caregivers. It’s time we move beyond gratitude and offer real, tangible help.
Because caregivers deserve care, too.
Jennifer Benson is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts.
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