HARTFORD – As families begin to gather for the upcoming holiday season and in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released a report on Tuesday called Supporting our Caregivers: Policies and resources for Connecticut families caring for a loved one. Murphy’s report cites the mounting cost and increasing burdens placed on family caregivers, and makes clear the dire need for Congress to take action to support them. Specifically, the report outlines a set of policy recommendations that Congress must take – including passing Murphy’s Social Security Caregiver Credit Act, protecting Medicaid funding, and fully funding the federal State Health Insurance Assistance Programs and Older Americans Act programs – to help take pressures off family caregivers. The report also includes a list of programs and resources that are available to assist Connecticut seniors, caregivers, and families. 

Murphy will discuss the report while meeting with seniors, family caregivers, advocates, providers, and consumers of home and community-based elderly care at the Mary Wade Home in New Haven later today. Many families decide to start the conversation about senior care for their aging loved ones during the holiday season.

“I’ve heard from families all across Connecticut who’ve put their lives on hold to care for a loved one. Most caregivers are unpaid. Many have been forced to cut back on hours at their jobs, and others have had to leave their jobs altogether,” said Murphy. “Working less means fewer or lower paychecks, and it means they’re not paying into Social Security and saving for retirement. Family caregivers sacrifice so much to care for their loved ones. I hope my report shines a light on all of the work Washington needs to do to support them.”

Read Murphy’s report here: https://www.murphy.senate.gov/download/supporting-our-caregivers

Murphy has hosted a series of roundtables with family caregivers, advocates, providers, and consumers of home care across Connecticut to learn about the issues impacting Connecticut caregivers. Studies indicate that on average, total wage, private pension, and Social Security losses due to caregiving total more than $300,000 per caregiver and can significantly threaten retirement security. The most recent data indicates that family caregivers in Connecticut provide more than 427 million hours of unpaid care with more than half of Connecticut residents age 40 and older saying they have provided care on an unpaid basis for an adult loved one. Women, who make up two-thirds of unpaid caregivers, are disproportionately impacted.