AARP Poll Shows Strong Support for a Caregiver Tax Credit and Expanded In-Home Care

AARP released results of a new poll of voters 50 and older showing overwhelming bipartisan support for a tax credit for family caregivers and increased resources for in-home care.

More than 40% of voters polled by AARP have provided unpaid care to an older loved one, either currently or in the past, with nearly 70% working full- or part-time while doing so. Those surveyed also shared strong preferences for where and how they would like to be cared for as they age:

• 87% would prefer to receive care at home, with help from a caregiver, rather than in a nursing home.
• Nearly nine in 10 feel it is very important to be able to choose where they or a loved one would receive long-term care.
• Eight in 10 consider it very important to have services available to help a loved one who needs long-term care to stay at home for as long as possible.

The survey was conducted by phone August 2-12, 2021, among 1,400 U.S. registered voters ages 50 and older. The confidence interval for the total sample is ±2.62%.

AARP’s survey support aligned with the details of the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, S. 1670/H.R. 3321 which would provide a new, non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 to eligible family caregivers.