Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act Signed into Law, Extending Federal Support for Family Caregivers
Caregiving arrangements can be fragile, often hinging on the health and stamina of a single family member. In the United States, more than 63 million unpaid family caregivers provide long-term care for aging parents, spouses, and loved ones, according to reporting by LTC News.
A sudden illness, exhaustion, or lack of support can quickly push families into crisis.
President Donald Trump signed the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act into law (February 6, 2026) as part of a broader federal funding package, extending the program through fiscal year 2030. The measure continues federal grants that help states provide short-term respite care so unpaid family caregivers can step away temporarily while their loved ones remain safe.
Respite care provides short-term relief for unpaid family caregivers, allowing them to step away temporarily while their loved one continues to receive safe, supervised care. Services can range from a few hours of in-home help to adult day programs or short stays in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities.
The goal is not to replace long-term care, but to prevent caregiver burnout, reduce stress-related health problems, and help families maintain care at home longer. Experts widely view respite care as a stabilizing tool that can delay crises and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or premature nursing home placement.
As many American families lack a plan for long-term care or own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, an aging or chronic health event creates a crisis within the family as they attempt to find ways to provide extended care for their loved one.
Health insurance and Medicare only cover short-term skilled care, while Medicaid pays for long-term care for those with limited financial resources.
What the Law Does
The Lifespan Respite Care Program provides competitive federal grants to states to coordinate and expand access to respite services across the lifespan.
The reauthorization:
- Extends the program through 2030.
- Increases authorized funding by roughly 10 percent, to about $11 million annually.
- Explicitly includes caregivers under age 18, recognizing the growing number of youth providing regular care to parents, grandparents, or siblings.
The federal program authorizes competitive grants to states to support coordinated, community-based respite services for unpaid family caregivers of children and adults, regardless of the care recipient’s insurance status or income. It helps states build systems and increase access to respite services, but it does not directly provide Medicaid funding or require Medicaid eligibility.
The law also does not create a new entitlement or guarantee services. States must apply for and administer grants, working through aging agencies, disability organizations, and nonprofit providers.
Bipartisan Support in Congress
The legislation was authored by Sen Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WA). Both lawmakers framed respite care as a practical, cost-effective way to support families and delay or prevent institutional placement.
In announcing final passage, Collins said respite services help caregivers remain healthy and able to continue providing care, reducing stress that can otherwise lead to burnout and medical decline.
Caregivers provide an estimated $600 billion in uncompensated care each year. Yet, an astounding 85 percent of caregivers have not received any respite services at all. I saw this in my own family, where my mother took care of my father who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease for eight years. Respite care was almost nonexistent for her, other than that provided by family members. — Senator Susan Collins.
Collins says respite care has been shown to reduce stress and physical health risks among family caregivers, helping them continue providing care at home. With the bill now signed into law, federal support for respite services will continue, maintaining access for caregivers and the people they support.
Baldwin emphasized that the law recognizes unpaid caregivers as a cornerstone of the long-term care system. She said she served as her grandmother's primary caregiver as her grandmother grew older. She saw firsthand the financial and emotional strain of taking care of a loved one.
I’m proud to work with Republicans and Democrats to deliver some much-needed relief and support for family caregivers so that when Americans step up to keep their loved ones safe and well at home, they can be confident we have their backs. — Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Advocacy groups that pushed for the reauthorization include AARP, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, disability rights organizations, and the ARCH National Respite Coalition, which called the law a meaningful step forward after years of uncertainty around funding.
Why Respite Care Matters
You may think of long-term care as nursing homes or assisted living. In reality, most long-term care happens at home, provided by family members without pay.
With more than 63 million Americans acting as unpaid caregivers, many are forced to juggle jobs, aging parents, spouses with chronic illness, or children with disabilities. Research consistently links caregiving without breaks to higher rates of depression, cardiovascular disease, and injury.
Regardless of the age or condition of the person who is providing care, respite care is one of the most-frequently requested caregiver support services. “Respite can reduce stress and social isolation among family caregivers, as well as help avoid and delay costly out-of-home placements in facilities like nursing homes. — Kim Whitmore, ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
Respite care offers temporary relief. It can mean a few hours of in-home help, adult day services, or short stays in a facility. For caregivers, that break can determine whether care continues at home or collapses into emergency placement.
Despite demand, access remains limited. National surveys show that only a small share of caregivers seeking respite services can access them.
Individuals with Long-Term Care Insurance have access to respite care. However, you must have an LTC policy in place before you need care. Experts say that most people obtain Long-Term Care Insurance between the ages of 47 and 67.
What Changes in Reality—and What Does Not
The reauthorization ensures the program does not expire. That alone matters for states that rely on federal funds to maintain respite networks.
Still, the law’s practical impact will vary.
- Funding remains modest. Even with an increase, the program’s annual budget is small compared with the economic value of unpaid caregiving, estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
- State access will differ. Some states already operate coordinated respite systems. Others lack provider capacity, particularly in rural areas.
- Workforce shortages persist. Federal funding cannot quickly solve shortages of home care workers and respite providers, a constraint that limits how many families can be served.
Experts caution that while the law strengthens the foundation, it does not guarantee services for every caregiver who needs relief.
How This Fits into Long-Term Care Planning
Experts tell LTC News that respite care can buy time for families. It can delay assisted living or nursing home placement, reduce caregiver health decline, and stabilize care at home. But it is not a replacement for long-term care planning.
Medicare and health insurance do not cover ongoing long-term care. When care needs increase, families still face difficult financial and logistical decisions. Long-Term Care Insurance remains one of the few tools that can provide guaranteed resources for extended care while easing the burden on family caregivers.
What Comes Next
Federal agencies will continue awarding grants to states under the renewed authority. The effectiveness of the law will depend on how aggressively states apply for funding, build provider networks, and reach caregivers who often do not know respite help exists.
For caregivers, the law sends a clear signal: Washington recognizes your role. Whether that recognition translates into meaningful relief where you live is the next test.
Find quality caregivers, including respite care services, and long-term care facilities, by using the LTC News Caregiver Directory.