Americans want to age at home — Congress must help make it possible

The Age wave. The Elder Boom. The Silver Tsunami. Whatever you call it, we all know there’s something happening in America, because we feel it in our own homes and communities. At least 63 million of us are spending significant amounts of time each week, doing our very best to care for an aging or disabled loved one, on top of work and other responsibilities.

When the Social Security Act passed in 1935, life expectancy in America was 61 years. In 2024, thanks to advances in health care and technology, it’s 79 years — the highest it has ever been. Many of us will live beyond our 80s — in fact, the population over the age of 85 is expected to more than double by 2040.

We have extended our lifespan considerably, changing many aspects of life in our intergenerational families and communities, especially when it comes to caregiving. Rather than transition to nursing homes when we need assistance, most of us would prefer to age at home, connected to our families and communities. Families are coming together in new ways to support community living. Our needs have changed and we’re all doing our best; what hasn’t changed is our federal policy.

Federal policy must change, too. Two long-overdue pieces of federal legislation, the Home and Community-Based Services Access Act and the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act were introduced. Together, they offer a proactive path forward toward the support working families need, especially when it comes to care in the home and the community. In the face of major cuts to Medicaid, which pays for........

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