Caring for Seniors Act

This legislation aims to address the growing long-term care workforce crisis and enhance both the accessibility and affordability of long-term care services for older Americans. It recognizes the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the high cost of care, and the significant shortage of direct care workers, aiming to provide solutions to these pressing issues. To strengthen the long-term care workforce , the bill mandates the expansion of existing and establishment of new education and training grant programs through the Department of Labor and the Health Resources and Services Administration. These programs will support the direct care workforce , including those in assisted living facilities, by focusing on core certification and training requirements for individuals providing home and community-based services to seniors and people with disabilities. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a Senior Care Cost Reduction Program under the Older Americans Act of 1965. This program will provide states with allotments to administer monthly financial assistance, initially set at $1,000 and adjusted annually for inflation, to help low-income seniors afford assisted living facilities as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive institutional care. Eligibility for this cost reduction amount requires individuals to be at least 70 years old, accepted into an approved assisted living facility, and either chronically ill or eligible for Medicaid long-term services. Financial eligibility is also a key factor, with limits on net monthly income, annual income (not exceeding 60% of state median), and total resources not exceeding specified amounts. The Act authorizes the appropriation of funds recovered from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, originally allocated for COVID-19 relief, to finance these new programs and initiatives.