Bill Overview
Title: Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act
Description: This bill addresses home care and caregiver programs for veterans.
Sponsors: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans and their caregivers
Estimated Size: 9000000
- The bill is specifically focused on home care and caregiver programs for veterans.
- Veterans who require home and community-based services will directly benefit from the legislation.
- Caregivers, who are responsible for assisting these veterans, will also be impacted by receiving possibly better support and resources.
- Globally, there are many veterans that could benefit from enhanced home and community-based services.
Reasoning
- The bill targets veterans and their caregivers, focusing on improving home and community-based care services.
- The estimated eligible population for this bill in the U.S. is approximately 9 million, indicating a significant group potentially affected.
- The budget constraint of $500 million in year 1 and $6.325 billion over 10 years suggests the resources will have to be distributed effectively to optimize impact.
- Different individuals will experience varying levels of impact from the policy, with some benefiting more directly than others due to their unique situations.
Simulated Interviews
Veteran (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel like sometimes the care I receive is not enough, and I struggle with daily tasks.
- Additional support would greatly improve my quality of life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Veteran caregiver (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often feel overwhelmed juggling my job and caregiving duties.
- More support could mean being able to maintain my own health and wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Veteran (Denver, CO)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to more targeted home care services can really help me transition to civilian life.
- I'm currently very dependent on my family, which puts a strain on everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired nurse (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could really boost the support network for veteran caregivers.
- Making sure caregivers have resources is essential to their stamina and mental health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Veteran (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely entirely on the care provided at the home.
- Additional funding could improve our living conditions significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Veteran (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved access to services would allow me to focus on my recovery and job.
- Currently, balancing work and healthcare appointments is tough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Veteran caregiver (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More resources would mean less financial stress and better personal wellbeing.
- Right now, everything revolves around my brother's care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Veteran (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supportive services have been all right, but limited.
- Additional programs could add more value to my life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Part-time volunteer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Great to see this being recognized, many caregivers suffer in silence.
- Hope the act can enhance what volunteers are already doing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Veteran caregiver (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There are days when it feels like I'm drowning in responsibilities.
- Any additional support would be a tremendous relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $750000000)
Year 3: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $800000000)
Year 5: $650000000 (Low: $550000000, High: $850000000)
Year 10: $700000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $900000000)
Year 100: $1100000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1300000000)
Key Considerations
- Approximately 9 million veterans could benefit directly, requiring significant infrastructure changes within the VA.
- Collaboration between federal, state, non-profit, and private sectors might be necessary to successfully meet the bill's objectives and control costs.
- Policy impact should consider the cost-per-beneficiary ratio to ensure efficient utilization of resources.