AARP: Virginia's Family Caregivers Need More Support

In honor of National Family Caregivers Month in November, AARP Virginia is working to help nearly 1 million family caregivers in the state, who in 2021 provided $14.3 billion in unpaid care for loved ones. Go to events.aarp.org/VACare.

“Family caregivers are the invisible backbone of our long-term care system,” says Jared Calfee, state advocacy director for AARP Virginia. “We are not doing enough to support family caregivers.”

AARP Virginia is advocating for paid family leave, as well as “presumptive eligibility” for Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services.

Presumptive eligibility would allow low-income individuals who need care to receive Medicaid in-home services while their application is being reviewed. Nearly a dozen other states have established Medicaid presumptive eligibility for in-home care.