,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ajag ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #c1 #bjai,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,kaine7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife in order to address the needs of caregivers1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,supporting ,america's ,caregivers and ,families ,act4 #b4 ,addressing the needs of caregivers 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations for family caregiver support ,section #cjc7;e7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjbc7;e77 is amended by striking #aed1ccf1dhb and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting #cfj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 7b7 ,improving caregiver assessment 7#a7 ,increasing use of caregiver assessment tools ,section #bjb of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjab7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,by not later than ,january #a1 #bjba1 the ,assistant ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 in consultation with caregivers1 older individuals1 the aging network1 and other experts and stakeholders1 develop and implement a strategy to increase the use of comprehensive caregiver assessment tools that-- 7,a7 are standardized across a planning and service area2 7,b7 assess the specific problems1 needs1 strengths1 and resources of caregivers-- 7i7 as identified by a recognized caregiver1 as appropriate1 through voluntary participation2 7ii7 through direct contact with the caregiver1 which may include in-person1 phone1 or online contact2 and 7iii7 at appropriate intervals1 including to accommodate significant changes in the caregiving situation2 7,c7 determine whether a caregiver would benefit from support services2 and 7,d7 lead to providing targeted caregiver support services to best benefit caregivers1 where appropriate and available based upon identified unmet needs1 including through referrals2 7#b7 conduct a study on the best practices and potential considerations regarding mandatory use of comprehensive caregiver assessment tools standardized across a planning and service area by an area agency on aging1 which shall examine-- 7,a7 the current use of caregiver assessments1 as of the date of the study2 7,b7 the efficacy and feasibility of mandatory use of comprehensive caregiver assessment tools standardized across a planning and service area1 including the value to caregivers and the older individuals to whom they provide care2 and 7,c7 the potential impact on the aging network of using such assessments2 and 7#c7 prepare and submit to ,congress a report regarding the study under paragraph 7#b7 that provides recommendations for the appropriate use of comprehensive caregiver assessments standardized across a planning and service area by an area agency on aging1 and a proposed budget1 based on the ,assistant ,secretary's professional judgment1 for appropriately implementing the recommendations4 4 7#b7 ,assessing needs of caregivers ,section #cgc7;e77#c7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcjs-#a7;e77#c77 is amended by inserting assess the needs of family caregivers or older relative caregivers and before provide4 7#c7 ,family caregiver resource center and technical assistance ,section #bjb7;b7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjab7;b77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#aj71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 by redesignating paragraph 7#aa7 as paragraph 7#ab72 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#aj7 the following3 7#aa7 establish and operate the ,national ,family ,caregiver ,resource and ,technical ,assistance ,center1 which will-- 7,a7 by grant or contract with a public or private nonprofit entity1 provide information and assistance to ,state agencies1 area agencies on aging1 and community-based service providers funded under this ,act1 including-- 7i7 through technical assistance1 research1 training1 program analysis1 and data collection2 7ii7 activities described in section #daa7;a77#aa72 and 7iii7 dissemination of best practices1 including best practices for conducting assessments of caregiver needs using comprehensive assessment tools standardized across a planning and service area2 and 7,b7 directly or through grant or contract1 provide information1 education1 and assistance to family caregivers in a manner that is accessible and understandable to the family caregivers4 4 7c7 ,business acumen provisions 7#a7 ,assistance relating to growing and sustaining capacity ,section #bjb7;b77#i7 of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjab7;b77#i77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and after the semicolon2 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting and after the semicolon2 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 business acumen1 capacity building1 organizational development1 innovation1 and other methods of growing and sustaining the capacity of the aging network to serve older adults and caregivers most effectively2 4 7#b7 ,clarifying partnerships for area agencies on aging ,section #cjf of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjbf7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7g7 ,nothing in this ,act shall restrict an area agency on aging from providing services not provided or authorized under this ,act1 including through-- 7#a7 contracts with health care payers2 7#b7 consumer private pay programs2 or 7#c7 other arrangements with entities or individuals that increase the availability of home and community-based services and supports in the planning and service area supported by the area agency on aging4 4