The Essential Caregivers Act of 2024 is a bipartisan and bicameral bill 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. 8331

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

S. 4280

  • 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 TO PROTECT RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FROM THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATION PROTOCOLS

Caregivers For Compromise has worked with legislators for over three years on federal level "essential caregiver" legislation.  On April 17, 2024, Caregivers For Compromise held a webinar to share the final bill text of H.R. 8331 and S. 4280 with advocates, family members, and stakeholders.  Below are all the resources and information from the webinar, a one pager of the bill, press releases from the lead sponsors, and the bill text.  We look forward to the day when The Essential Caregivers Act becomes the law of the land, ensuring 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.  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

READ THE BILL

Bill Text for H.R. 8331 and S 4280-The Essential Caregivers Act.

2024 WEBINAR SLIDES

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.

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