Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), alongside Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Rep. Ann Kuster (NH-02), introduced the bipartisan Care Across Generations Act. The bill would establish a grant program for long-term care facilities to operate or contract with a child care program and facilitate intergenerational activities.
“Caregiving is often overlooked as health care, and that must change,” said U.S. Rep. Strickland (WA-10). “It is a critical part of our economy, and this bill is an important step forward to improve the quality of care across generations while making investments to tackle the disjointed caregiving infrastructure.”
“We need to start thinking outside of the box on how to address the workforce shortage in long-term care facilities,” said U.S. Rep. Steil (WI-01). “Providing resources to create and maintain child care programs within long-term care communities is one way we can incentivize and retain health care workers. I’m confident this legislation brings us closer to alleviating the current caregiving crisis.”
“Our country is in the midst of a caregiving crisis, from a lack of reliable and affordable child care to staffing shortages in our long-term care facilities. For the sake of our country and our future, we must invest in innovative solutions to tackle these challenges,” said Congresswoman Kuster (NH-02). “The Care Across Generations Act does just that by creating child care programs that partner with long-term care communities, alleviating workforce shortages and improving the health and wellbeing of children and seniors. I look forward to seeing the joy these connections will bring to our seniors and kids!”
Intergenerational caregiving that combines senior and child day care services, increases the health and well-being of both young and older participants, reduces social isolation, and creates cost efficiencies. This popular care model helps to improve the quality of care both seniors and children receive, and can improve the live of families across the country.
This bipartisan bill is supported by the following organizations:
Washington Health Care Association (WHCA)
Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA)
Michigan Assisted Living Association (MALA)
Montana Health Care Association (MHCA) Arizona Assisted Living Federation of America (AZ-ALFA)
Arkansas Residential Assisted Living Association (ARALA)
Assisted Living Association of Alabama (ALAA)
California Assisted Living Association (CALA)
LeadingAge Colorado
Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA)
Florida Senior Living Association (FSLA)
Georgia Senior Living Association (GSLA)
Indiana Assisted Living Association
Iowa Assisted Living Association (IALA)
LeadingAge Illinois
Kentucky Senior Living Association (KSLA) Louisiana Assisted Living Association (LALA)
Lifespan Network (Maryland, DC)
Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (MASS-ALA)
LeadingAge Minnesota
Missouri Assisted Living Association (MALA)
New Hampshire Association of Residential Care Homes (NHARCH)
Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ)
Argentum New York
North Carolina Assisted Living Association (NCALA)
Ohio Assisted Living Association (OALA)
Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA)
Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA)
Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association (PALA)
Rhode Island Assisted Living Association (RIALA)
Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA)
Utah Assisted Living Association (UALA)
Virginia Assisted Living Association (VALA)
U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.
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