Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services Adopts Final Committee Report

ATLANTA (December 15, 2025) - The Senate Study Committee on Improving Family Caregiver Services, chaired by Minority Leader, Sen. Harold Jones II (D-Augusta), has voted to adopt its final report, offering key recommendations to address Georgia's rapidly growing senior population and support the state's over 1 million family caregivers.

Created by Senate Resolution 393 during the 2025 Legislative Session, the committee met with more than 30 organizations, government agencies, businesses and constituents over five months to gain a well-rounded perspective on the issues facing family caregivers. Throughout its work, the committee specifically examined the topics of caregiver demographics, the challenges families encounter, Georgia's family caregiving landscape, and programs and services offered in other states.

Sen. Jones reflected on the committee's work, stating, "Our committee took an in-depth look at the challenges Georgia's caregivers face and what must change in order for families to thrive. Caregiving can no longer be treated as an afterthought in our policy discussions. It is central to the well-being of our seniors, workforce and communities, and is a significant factor in whether Georgians can afford to build the kind of life they've worked hard for. Our goal is to help offset the financial burdens families face while supporting the creation of more jobs in the field, making caregiving a supported part of the American dream. If we follow through on these recommendations, Georgia can be a place where caring for loved ones does not mean sacrificing your own financial stability. I am proud of the work this committee has accomplished and am hopeful our recommendations will guide meaningful action in the months ahead."

The committee's recommendations include expanding eligibility under both the Paid Parental Leave Program and the Georgia Family Care Act to include additional familial relationships, while also establishing a pilot program to support caregivers aged 65 and older who care for individuals with dementia. Further, the committee recommends that the state explore targeted infrastructure grants to expand childcare facilities and direct the Division of Aging Services (DAS) to study barriers faced by African American and other minority caregivers. Finally, the committee recommends that DAS work with the Georgia Department of Veterans Services (GDVS) to examine how veterans and their caregivers can better access needed services while navigating federal and state systems.

The full report is available on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

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Sen. Harold V. Jones II serves as Minority Leader. He represents the 22^nd Senate District, which includes a portion of Richmond County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0036 or by email at [email protected].

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