The state legislature passed a bill to help older adults age in place in Massachusetts by requiring home care agencies to be licensed and meet standards for screening, training, and supervision. The bill also creates a commission to make recommendations for social insurance for long-term care as well as a Family Caregiver Commission.

“Everyone – consumers and workers – will be safer and better served with home care licensure in place,” said Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence and lead Senate sponsor of the legislation. “This legislation is the culmination of years of collaboration with advocates representing older adults, care providers, unions, and regulators to ensure all agencies are vetted, workers are protected, and consumers receive high-quality care. The commissions on Long Term Services and Supports and Family Caregiving are important next steps in providing more affordable options for our residents to access care and services. I am grateful to the Senate President, her team, my co-chair Representative Stanley and his team, along with my fellow conferees.”

Regarding the long-term care commission, Jehlen said, “Most of us will need long-term care at some point, and many will find it very hard to afford. The long-term services and supports commission will take the next step toward creating social insurance for long-term care, recommending models with variables such as the required contribution and the amount or duration of benefits. Establishing social insurance for long-term care will make it possible for many more people to age with financial security.”

The Family Caregiver Commission is to study family caregiving policy in Massachusetts. The commission would report on the current landscape of all state-funded efforts in caregiving research, clinical care, institutional and home-based and community-based supports, along with the feasibility of allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program.

The bill is now sent to the Governor for consideration after having passed both branches of the legislature and finalized in a conference committee.

–Office of Senator Patricia D. Jehlen