Care for Caregivers NC: A Policy Strategy to Increase Support for Family Caregivers of Older Adults

In North Carolina, a state with an increasingly aging population, policies and supports for family caregivers of older adults are inadequate to address the emotional, financial, and physical demands of caregiving. These demands are constant, placing caregivers at higher risk for chronic conditions such as anxiety and depression and requiring individuals to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely, creating additional financial pressure. NC ranks 49th in the nation for caregiver supports, reflecting inadequate support infrastructure. This paper outlines the scope of the problem, evaluates policy options to reduce caregiving burden, and presents a proposed budget. We recommend establishing a statewide loan program to support age-friendly co-housing communities. Modeled after the Workforce Housing Loan Program, this initiative would expand affordable senior housing. A 35 million state investment is needed to launch and sustain the program over its first three years.