Yesterday, on behalf of the coalition of caregivers and advocacy partners, Eleplan was honored to reflect on a powerful moment in Washington D.C.: the meeting between our the Coalition and the offices of Senator Cory Booker and Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey.
Why this moment matters:
Caregiving is one of the quiet cornerstones of our society: over 63 million people step up every day to support aging parents, disabled loved-ones, and family members with chronic conditions. These caregivers are often navigating labyrinthine benefit systems, juggling employment and family responsibilities, and working without much public recognition. Current policies simply do not reflect the full scale or complexity of that work.
The bipartisan urgency to re-authorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) signals recognition that these supports—home-delivered meals, respite services, caregiver training, community-based support—are not luxuries or afterthoughts. They are foundational to keeping families whole, elders safe, and states sustainable.
During our meeting yesterday, the coalition emphasized:
• The need for greater flexibility and funding under the OAA so states like New Jersey can partner with innovative organizations that deliver wrap-around support for caregivers.
• The importance of streamlined navigation and integration, so that caregivers aren’t forced to juggle multiple agencies, portals, programs and eligibility rules.
• The opportunity for public-private partnerships to scale caregiver supports, especially digital-enabled solutions, to fill the gap between traditional services and the lived reality caregivers face.
Senators Booker and Kim’s offices were engaged and receptive; they heard stories of caregivers stretched thin, of state systems that don’t communicate, and of the promise of scalable, seamless solutions. Their involvement gives voice to what many caregivers already know: caregiving is deeply personal, but its implications are undeniably public.
At Eleplan, we believe the system must meet caregivers where they are; logistically, emotionally, financially. Today’s meeting reinforced our conviction that:
• We will continue partnering with the State of New Jersey to pilot and scale solutions that reduce friction: one-stop caregiver platform, real-time supports, clearer pathways through benefit eligibility.
• We will advocate for policy that reflects real lives, not just programmatic boxes: programs that understand working caregivers, rural caregivers, multigenerational households.
• We will commit to evidence + empathy: measuring outcomes, but also listening to the stories behind the numbers. Because behind every caregiver is a story of love, duty, hope, and sometimes overwhelm.
The re-authorization of the Older Americans Act offers a critical policy window, and today’s meeting added momentum. But the work doesn’t stop in D.C. It echoes in every household where someone is balancing the demands of caregiving and life.
Our message to all stakeholders:
• To policymakers — caregivers aren’t a niche issue. They are central to our communities, our health system, our economy.
• To states — partner with innovators who understand both policy and people.
• To providers and private-sector partners — build solutions that reduce complexity, increase access, and honour the dignity of both caregiver and care-recipient.
• To caregivers — your work matters more than the system often acknowledges. We see you. We hear you. And we’re committed to building systems that support you.
Yesterday’s Hill Day was a meaningful step. It was not an endpoint. But it gives us renewed energy, sharper focus, and a deeper resolve. At Eleplan, we’re excited to turn today’s conversations into concrete collaborations, meaningful policy change, and, most importantly, better support for the millions of caregivers who hold our society together.