1

National Alliancefor Caregiving

Comments on “Building Bridges: Informal Caregivers”

Gail Gibson HuntNational Alliance for Caregiving

www.caregiving.org

2008 Colloquium – June 7, 2008

2

National Alliancefor Caregiving

Additional Research Recommendations

How do we overcome lack of caregiver self-ID?How much "dosage" is required to make an

intervention effective?What are the macro-workforce implications of

caregiving, including return to workforce?What is the extent of intergenerational transfers in

their different forms?What does caregiving look like across the life-course

(longitudinal over 3-4 generations as well as ethnic)?What factors sustain, support and enhance the

quality of family caregiving?How do we better understand the relationship

between family caregivers and paid caregivers?

3

National Alliancefor Caregiving

Additional Funding Recommendations

Double the National Family Caregiver Support Program funding and expand across the lifespan

Offer all caregiver services either free or on a sliding scale (for middle class)

Expand Dependent Care Accounts to include not just co-resident and financially dependent care recipients

Develop appropriate training opportunities (not just "direct" caregivers to them)

Consider Social Security tax credits for caregivers who leave the workforce