(Madison, WI) – The Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) is pleased to announce that time-sensitive Alzheimer’s Family and Caregiver Support Program (AFCSP) legislation (SB 152) was signed into law this afternoon. WAAN is grateful to the State Legislature (especially the bill’s authors, Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Rep. Dean Kaufert, and the bills 42 co-sponsors) and Governor Evers for their strong bipartisan work and for their quick and efficient advancement of this legislation through the bill making process. By eliminating outdated income eligibility requirements, this legislation will help more low- and middle-income Wisconsin families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia receive needed support and assistance through the state’s caregiver support program. Importantly, this legislation also helps Wisconsin counties continue to access essential national caregiver support program funds by bringing state policy into alignment with federal match requirements.
“Wisconsin was a leader in offering caregiver support services. AFCSP, established in 1985, was the first program of its kind in the nation and in 2000, was used as a guide for the development of the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP),” said John Schnabl, the Executive Director of the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. and member of WAAN’s leadership team. “Family caregivers of individuals with dementia experience out-of-pocket expenses averaging over $12,000/year to pay for direct services and support, not including the financial challenges they face related to lost wages and other indirect costs.” AFCSP provides essential services like respite, transportation, and in-home support.
Programs, such as AFCSP, help to reduce long-term care costs by enabling more people to receive care at home, delaying or preventing the need for more costly residential care.
