Caring for Caregivers Act

This bill sets up a program in Tennessee, to help people caring for people with Alzheimer’s to pay for things they need.

• Alzheimer's: A sickness that mostly happens to older people. It affects a person’s brain, making it hard to remember things, think clearly, or take care of themselves.

• This bill is based on research that people in Tennessee who take care of family members with Alzheimer’s spend or lose over $36,000 each. 

• If the bill passes, it will be called the "Caring for Caregivers Act."  

  • Caregiver: someone who helps take care of someone that needs support to do things like eating, dressing, or going places.

• This bill explains what certain terms mean, including:

  • "Activities of daily living" (ADL), like moving around, eating, dressing, keeping oneself clean, bathroom needs, and using the toilet.  

  • "Adjusted income" as money the people in a home bring in minus half of unpaid costs paid by a family caregiver for care-related needs. 

    • These unpaid costs do not include general things for the house.

  • "Eligible expenses" are unpaid costs paid by a family caregiver for care-related needs, not including general things for the house 

  • "Eligible family member": someone who needs help with at least two ADLs, has Alzheimer's, and is living in a family home.  

  • "Family caregiver," someone providing care, incurring eligible expenses, and meeting income requirements.  

• If this bill passes:

  • The department of disability and aging will set up a pilot family caregiver grant program from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029, across all three grand divisions.  

    • The department of disability and aging: a state office that works to make sure disabled and older people in Tennessee have what they need.

  • A separate pool of money for this program will be created within the money the state government has. 

    • This new pool of money will come from the state budget and donations.  

  • The amount of money people taking care of their family members will get will depend on how much money they make.

    • There will be a limit of $6,000 per family caregiver each year.  

• Caregivers will still be able to get this money while the family member is in the hospital and plans to go home.  

• The person whose job it is to manage the state’s money will invest the program's money, so that the amount of money gets bigger. 

  • Investing: setting money aside so that it will grow over time.

  • Any interest stays in the program

  • Money that isn’t spent will pay for the program the next year

• The department of disability and aging will update how much money a person can make to get this money on July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028.

  • The money counted towards being able to get money from this program includes both what the caregiver and the person they are married to make, if they are married.  

• The commissioner can make rules to make this program happen.

  • The commissioner: The person in charge of the department of disability and aging, who makes sure rules are followed and programs happen the way they are supposed to.

• The department of disability and aging will send reports about how the program is doing and how much money is spent by October 1 each year until the program ends.  

• This bill:

  • Suggests using $600,000 over 2026-2027 to support people getting money.  

  • Doesn’t give money directly; this will happen in the state budget.  

  • Starts right away so that the rules can be made. 

    • Officially starts on July 1, 2026.