By: Kimberly Bonvissuto
The reintroduction of a federal bill promoting on-site childcare within assisted living communities and other residential long-term care settings is being touted not only as a solution to workforce shortage issues but also as another way to address loneliness in residents.
The Care Across Generations Act, HR 1812, would amend the Older Americans Act to provide resources to create and maintain childcare programs within assisted living communities, nursing homes, board and care facilities, adult care homes and similar settings. Research shows that intergenerational settings increase the health and well-being of both young and old participants, reduces social isolation and creates cost efficiencies, according to Argentum, a supporter of the legislation. Not many senior living communities offer this type of interaction, however, the association said.
The nation’s 31,400 assisted living communities are home to almost 2 million older adults and employ 1 million caregivers, many of whom report difficulties with finding reliable childcare, according to Argentum.
The bipartisan legislation, first introduced in December 2023 by Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), who also re-introduced the bill March 3, would provide grants to enable residential long-term care providers to offer on-site childcare centers or partner with nearby childcare centers to promote intergenerational connection between residents and children.
In addition to being supported by Argentum, the 2023 legislation also was supported by several state senior living and care advocacy organizations.
Argentum continues to support the effort, saying that a significant portion of the senior living workforce includes parents with childcare needs and so on-site childcare services would improve worker recruitment and retention efforts.
“We need to start thinking outside of the box on how to address the workforce shortage in long-term care facilities,” said US Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), a co-sponsor of the 2023 and 2025 versions of the bill, said in 2023. “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.”