June 24, 2021, Washington, DC—One of the nation’s top aging services organizations hailed legislation introduced in Congress today to help close a massive gap in home and community-based services (HCBS) for millions of older Americans facing hardships, waiting lists and the daily challenges of staying healthy.

The Better Care Better Jobs Act would take steps toward implementing President Biden’s proposal to provide historic investments in home & community-based services.

“Millions of older Americans living at home need care and services—from help getting in and out of bed, to bathing, and eating meals,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the national association of more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers. “Providing access to home and community-based services could be a game-changer that helps older adults get high-quality care and lead independent lives at home.”

“This bill would mean better pay and benefits for care professionals, when almost half of home care worker households must currently depend on some form of public assistance,” Sloan added. “And it would provide some relief for more than 40 million Americans who provide some form of unpaid caregiving for an older adult – at an average of 34 unpaid hours a week in care.”

LeadingAge members around the country have been urging their Members of Congress to adopt the Administration’s proposals for home and community-based care, as well as affordable housing and broadband support.

LeadingAge recently released a needs report documenting the growing care affordability and access crisis facing older Americans—and the need for more government reimbursement to enable care providers to meet this demand.

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.