(Madison, WI) – Yesterday, the State Assembly passed legislation (SB 152/AB 176) to help more families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia receive needed financial support through the state’s Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP). This legislation, also passed in the State Senate last week, removes an outdated income eligibility cap allowing more low- and middle-income families to access needed assistance.
SB 152/AB 176 will also help many Wisconsin counties meet federal match requirements for a national caregiver support program available through the Older Americans Act. Effective this year, the 25% match requirement for the national caregiver support program can no longer be met using funds from a means-tested (income-based eligibility) program like AFCSP. More than half of Wisconsin counties were using AFCSP to meet the federal match requirement and faced losing their share of the $3.5 million in annual federal caregiver support.
The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) is grateful to the bill’s authors, Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Rep. Dean Kaufert, and the 42 co-sponsors for their bipartisan support of this legislation!
“Wisconsin’s AFCSP has been a vital resource for families caring for loved ones with dementia at home since 1985,” said John Schnabl, the Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. and member of WAAN’s leadership team. “Family caregivers of individuals with dementia experience out of-pocket expenses averaging over $12,000/year to pay for direct services and support, not including the financial challenges they face related to lost wages and other indirect costs.” AFCSP provides essential services like respite, transportation, and in-home support, which delay more costly Medicaid funded care. Eliminating the income restrictions for AFCSP will maximize state caregiver support, safeguard essential federal dollars for Wisconsin families, and provide vital resources to support continued care at home and strengthen support for family caregivers across the state.
This legislation is now headed for the Governor’s desk. WAAN respectfully requests Governor Evers to sign into law this legislation supporting Wisconsin family caregivers.
