Nebraskans know the importance of taking care of each other. This is no more evident than in the approximately 179,000 unpaid family caregivers in our state whose care allows their loved ones to remain at home and helps them avoid unnecessary hospital stays or costly taxpayer-funded institutional care.

Family caregivers are essential to ensuring the safety, quality and sustainability of our long-term care system. While family caregivers provide support out of love, caregiving can create serious emotional strain and financial hardships for many.

According to a 2023 AARP report, more than half of those caregivers surveyed said their responsibilities in taking care of a loved one increased their level of stress. This is a particularly acute problem for those who are balancing a full-time job with their caregiving responsibilities.

On average, family caregivers spend 26% of their income on caregiving activities and typically spend $7,242 annually on out-of-pocket expenses related to looking after their loved ones.

While family caregivers are making these sacrifices, they are saving the state of Nebraska billions of dollars. In fact, AARP estimates family caregivers in Nebraska provide over 168 million hours of unpaid care valued at $2.8 billion annually.

It is time to find a way to ease the financial burden and better support our family caregivers. We appreciate State Sen. Eliot Bostar for introducing the Caregiver Tax Credit Act (Legislative Bill 937) in the Nebraska Legislature. This bill is modeled after similar legislation that recently passed in Oklahoma and would create a nonrefundable tax credit to any family caregiver who incurs eligible expenditures for the care and support of a family member.

The credit covers up to 50% of the expenses incurred by a family caregiver and is capped at $2,000, unless the eligible family member is a veteran or has a diagnosis of dementia, in which case the maximum allowable credit is $3,000. We strongly encourage the Legislature to look after our caregivers by passing LB 937.

It is critical that we ensure all family caregivers have the financial, emotional and social support they need, because the care they provide is invaluable both to those receiving it and to their community. With luck, we all will grow old one day and have the privilege to depend on our loved ones to help us age in place with grace and dignity.

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