The Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 is a bipartisan and bicameral bill (identical language in the House and Senate bills) that requires skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationwide to permit essential caregivers in-person access during any period in which regular visitation is restricted.

H.R. 6766

  • U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
  • U.S. Representative John B. Larson (D-CT)

S. 3492

  • U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)

“It is vital that we, as a society, recognize the critical role that family members play in the care and well-being of residents in long-term care facilities. For more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, residents in these facilities were separated from their loved ones – far too many lost their will to survive, and many others suffered untold emotional, psychological, and physical pain as a result of this separation. This bill would ensure that in any future emergency, at least one designated essential caregiver is able to access their loved ones in a manner consistent with all applicable health and safety protocols.”

A BILL WITH OUTSTANDING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WHICH PROTECTS RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FROM THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATION PROTOCOLS

Caregivers For Compromise has worked with legislators for over five years on federal level "essential caregiver" legislation.  We look forward to the day when the Essential Caregivers Act becomes the law of the land, ensuring that no one in a long-term care facility is isolated and alone during the next declared emergency.  We will never forget what happened to our loved ones during the COVID pandemic and how it impacted people across America. Multiple research st We have created a 30 minute video called "50 States/50 Stories", featuring a caregiver story from constituents in each of the 50 States.

50 STATES/50 STORIES VIDEO

The Essential Caregivers Act Is A Simple, Straightforward, And Compassionate Bill With No Fiscal Note

Sign The Care2 Petition For The Bill "Prevent Nursing Home Isolation" Which Currently Has 55,000 Signatures!

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The Essential Caregivers Act is supported by many healthcare professionals, including infection control specialists, doctors, nurses, social workers, and long-term care industry workers

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS OF THE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS ACT INCLUDE

  • Caregivers For Compromise - with over 17,000 Members in all 50 States
  • The Alzheimer's Association
  • The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
  • PALTmed (The Post Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association)
  • NASOP (The National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman)
  • National Consumer Voice For Quality Long-Term Care
  • AARP On January 5, 2026, AARP sent letters to Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Cornyn (R-TX), and Representatives Tenney (R-NY) and Larson (D-CT), endorsing the Essential Caregivers Act. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, nursing homes across the country faced extraordinarily difficult decisions about visitation. While protecting residents’ health was the priority, prolonged separation highlighted the essential role that family connections play in residents’ well-being. This legislation requires nursing homes and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to permit essential caregivers access during future periods of restricted visitation, establishes limits on full lockdowns, and provides exemptions for end-of-life situations so that no resident is forced to spend their final moments without a loved one by their side. (Senate-PDF) (House-PDF)
  • Supporting Organizations and Individuals For The Essential Caregivers Act

LEGISLATORS:

To Cosponsor The Essential Caregivers Act, Please Email:

House:

Senate:

READ THE BILL

Bill Text for H.R. 6766 and S 3492 — The Essential Caregivers Act.

H.R.6766

  • 119th Congress (2025-2026) To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to permit essential caregivers access during any period in which regular visitation is restricted.
    • The House Lead Sponsors are Representatives Claudia Tenney of NY and John B. Larson of CT.

S.3492

  • 119th Congress (2025-2026) A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities to permit essential caregivers access during any period in which regular visitation is restricted.
    • The Senate Lead Sponsors are Senators Richard Blumenthal of CT and John Cornyn of Texas.

ONE-PAGER FROM THE AUTHORS

The authors released a statement on their one pager that demonstrates their commitment to people in long-term care and an understanding of the cruelty of isolation protocols, while needing to make sure we do not lose sight of safety and infection control. This bill strikes that balance. Read it HERE.

WEBINAR RECORDING

A recording of the April 17, 2024 webinar outlining the bill provisions is posted on this page with only the bill details. The full video with introductions and closing remarks is available for download HERE.

Watch the Full Webinar HERE

Summary Sheet For The Essential Caregivers Act
1987 Nursing Home Reform Act Resident Rights

2024 Webinar Slides and Video

CT and TX team members walked advocates, family members, and stakeholders through the bill language in a webinar setting to make sure supporters have an opportunity to explore the bill further, ask questions, and be prepared to ask Congressional House Reps and Senators for co-sponsorships just as soon as the bill is officially filed. The slides for that webinar are available for download HERE.