WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the In-Home Caregiver Assessment Resources & Education (CARE) Act of 2025, legislation that would support caregivers who provide unpaid care to relatives, partners, and friends by establishing a 3-year grant program for local government agencies and community organizations to carry out family caregiver home visiting programs.

“In New Jersey, nearly 2 million adults provide unpaid care to a family member with complex medical conditions or disabilities,” said Senator Booker. “Caregivers provide essential services and must be protected and supported. This legislation acknowledges the tremendous responsibility caregivers carry, and would ensure unpaid, informal caregivers have the tools and resources they need to take care of their loved ones and themselves.”

In the past year, 63 million Americans, nearly one in four adults, provided ongoing care for an adult or child with a complex medical condition or disability. Almost one in four of these caregivers reported providing 40 hours or more of care per week and provide an estimated $1 trillion in care each year. Many caregivers also experience poor health, social isolation, and high stress because of their caregiving responsibilities, and nearly 50 percent experience major financial hardship such as increased debt, lost savings, and food insecurity.

In New Jersey, one in six caregivers live in a household with an income under $50,000, and approximately 25 percent are caring for an adult while also caring for a child under 18. Providing resources, training, and support to caregivers not only benefits their mental, physical, and financial well-being, but also helps reduce costs to the health care system by expanding home-based care, reducing doctor’s visits, and lowering hospital admissions.

The In Home CARE Act would help informal, unpaid family caregivers by:

  • Establishing a 3-year competitive grant program for local government agencies and community organizations to carry out family caregiver home visiting programs during which grant recipients would:
    • Conduct an initial home visit for each caregiver to determine what follow-up services may be beneficial
    • Conduct home visits to provide caregiver education and training
    • Provide an assessment and referral for physical and mental health services for each caregiver
  • Requiring the Secretary of HHS to prioritize eligible organizations that have a proven record of family caregiver support and will use evidence-based programs when awarding grants

The In Home CARE Act is endorsed by: The Arc, ALS United Mid-Atlantic, Samaritan NJ, National Alliance for Care at Home, Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ, and The Huntington's Disease Society of America, Alliance Center for Independence.

A one pager on the bill can be found here.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.