U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held a news conference to announce federal legislation she is introducing to assist families who care for aging family members and to ensure the integrity of long-term care insurance policies. Specifically, the legislation provides tax relief to family caregivers, increases support for family caregivers by expanding the National Family Care Givers Support Program, and establishes and authorizes funding for the National Care Giving Resource Center. The senator also announced legislation that establishes a third party review board for disputed long-term care insurance claims.

The Minnesota Senior Federation's public policy director, Lee Graczyk, joined Klobuchar at the press conference along with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson and Skip Humprey from AARP Minnesota. Deb Ohotto, a  family caregiver, expressed her appreciation for the assistance that the Senior Federation provided her and her family with information about services available to assist them in their efforts to help their mother.

In coming years, the United States and Minnesota will experience an “age wave” as the Baby Boom generation begins to retire and more people live into their 80s, 90s and beyond.

Minnesota’s population over age 65 is projected to double between 2000 and 2030, to 1.3 million. The number of Minnesotans over age 85 will also double during that same period. Currently, about 92 percent of long-term care for seniors in Minnesota is provided by family members. While 8 million Americans have purchased long-term care insurance policies, there have been growing complaints about refusal of insurance companies to pay out appropriate and timely benefits.

In May, Klobuchar chaired a congressional joint economic committee that heard about the impact of elder care responsibilities on families and employers. Among those testifying were two Minnesotans:  Leni Wilcox, division director for Amherst Wilder Foundation’s Community Services for the Elderly; and Scott Weisberg, vice president of compensation, benefits and staffing at General Mills. Both attended Klobuchar’s press conference where Weisber spoke about General Mills’ employee program benefits work with caregivers.