1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Caregiver Corps Act of 2014”.
Caregiver Corps Act of 2014
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a Caregiver Corps program.
2. Findings and purpose
Findings— Congress makes the following findings:
As of 2013, more than 43,000,000 Americans are age 65 or older. More than 75 percent of such individuals live with chronic conditions which require assistance that helps them to live in a home- or community-based setting. In 2012, almost 38,000,000 Americans of all ages reported having one or more disabilities.
As of 2012, there were over 800,000 home health aides assisting older adults in their homes with activities of daily living and some light housekeeping tasks such as changing linens and preparing food. Direct care workers are critical as families and friends strive to provide quality care for individuals in the community.
Estimates suggest that there are 52,000,000 to 65,000,000 informal caregivers helping to provide care to adults with disabilities and illnesses. These caregivers help with a range of tasks but more time is spent on tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, and laundry, and less time is spent on activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, grooming, walking, bathing, and assistance toileting.
Over 60 percent of all informal caregivers work either full- or part-time. Even with the growing number of direct care workers available, there is a shortage in the number of people available to help support individuals who need extra assistance to remain in the community.
Only 12 percent of informal caregivers report having used a respite service. Respite is a means of giving the caregiver a break from their caregiving duties. Respite comes in many forms and may include having the individual attend an adult day program outside the home or having a friendly visitor serve as a companion and provide light assistance while the caregiver takes a break.
Respite volunteer programs exist in many communities. There is a range of ways that these programs offer incentives to the volunteers. Some programs use a time-banking or service-exchange approach as an incentive to engage volunteers, while other programs access funds from private and public sources to offer modest stipends to volunteers.
Purpose— It is the purpose of this Act to establish a Caregiver Corps program to foster the creation of community-based Corps programs that provide for volunteer community service opportunities to address the shortage of assistance available for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
3. Establishment of Caregiver Corps program
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“399V–6. Caregiver Corps
“(a) Contract for establishment of Caregiver Corps program
“(1) In general—The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity for the development of an online toolkit and guidance providing for the establishment and implementation of Caregiver Corps (referred to in this section as “Corps”) volunteer programs in local communities.
“(2) Requirements—The toolkit and guidance developed under paragraph (1) shall be based on best practice methods from existing private and public sector volunteer programs and include—
“(A) guidance on the recruitment, screening, and training of Corps volunteers;
“(B) guidance on recommended processes for administering and evaluating the performance of local Corps programs;
“(C) guidance on options for securing start-up and operational funding for local Corps programs;
“(D) sources for obtaining ongoing technical assistance; and
“(E) guidance on how communities can promote larger community involvement and cultivate partnerships and connections between local Corps programs.
“(3) Grants—The Secretary may award grants to public and private nonprofit entities for the operation of local Corps programs under subsection (b) in accordance with this section.
“(b) Requirements of Caregiver Corps programs
“(1) Local Caregiver Corps programs
“(A) Eligibility—To be eligible to be a local Corps program for purposes of this section, an entity shall be—
“(i) an area agency on aging;
“(ii) a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency;
“(iii) a college or university;
“(iv) a State, county, or local government; or
“(v) any other entity determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
“(B) Duties and activities—A local Corps program shall—
“(i) conduct screening and criminal history background checks of Corps volunteers;
“(ii) provide in-person orientation and training for Corps volunteers;
“(iii) develop and monitor volunteer assignments, which shall include selecting the adults to be served by Corps volunteers, matching volunteers to assignments, and supervising the volunteers;
“(iv) assist in the provision of appropriate volunteer recognition;
“(v) maintain records and prepare reports as required by the Secretary; and
“(vi) carry out any other activities determined appropriate by the Secretary.
“(2) Caregiver Corps volunteers
“(A) Eligibility
“(i) In general—To be eligible to serve as a volunteer for a local Corps program, an individual shall—
“(I) be at least 18 years of age and willing to accept supervision as required by the local Corps program;
“(II) consent to a criminal background check; and
“(III) meet such other requirements as the local Corps program shall require.
“(ii) Limitation—Eligibility to be a volunteer for a local Corps program shall not be restricted on the basis of education, employment experience, citizenship, race, color, creed, belief, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or political affiliation.
“(B) Terms of service
“(i) In general—An individual may serve as a full- or part-time volunteer for an initial period of not to exceed 2 years.
“(ii) Limitation—An individual who serves as a volunteer for a local Corps program shall not be considered to be an employee of the local Corps program for purposes of the application of any Federal or State employment-related law.
“(C) Functions
“(i) In general—A Corps volunteer shall—
“(I) provide assistance to an older individual or an individual with disabilities who needs additional services to remain in the community;
“(II) provide assistance to give an informal caregiver respite from his or her caregiving duties;
“(III) serve as a companion to older individuals and individuals with disabilities;
“(IV) provide assistance for which such volunteer is qualified, as determined by the local Corps program; and
“(V) not provide personal care or administer prescription medications.
“(ii) Individuals to be served—To be eligible to obtain Corps volunteer services, an individual shall be an adult aged 65 or older, or an individual eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance, who is in need of assistance to achieve and maintain their highest level of independent living.
“(iii) Required service to individuals—The activities of a Corps volunteer shall involve person-to-person relationships with the individuals being served and shall not include the provision of any service to the local Corps program involved.
“(3) Direct benefits—A local Corps program—
“(A) shall provide for appropriate recognition of Corps volunteers; and
“(B) may, at the discretion of the local Corps program, provide compensation to a Corps volunteer, in the manner determined appropriate by the local Corps program, which may include stipends, tuition incentives or academic credit, or the banking of volunteer hours for use against future needs for assistance.
“(4) Reporting—Not less than annually, a local Corps program shall submit to the Secretary a report that contains, with respect to the year for which the report is prepared—
“(A) aggregate data on the number of Corps volunteers trained, the number of Corps volunteers providing service, the number of hours of service provided, and the number of individuals being served; and
“(B) data to inform the Secretary and local communities of any system and consumer outcome impacts of the local Corps program.
“(c) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.”