House commission hears testimony on bill to expand support for family caregivers

SAN JUAN — On Sept. 15, 2025 the House Commission on Older Adults and Social Welfare held a public hearing on Senate Project 652, a bill to amend Law 82-2023 to expand Puerto Rico’s public policy for informal (family) caregivers and to align provisions with the federal Recognize, Assist, Include Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act (Public Law 115-119).

The measure drew broad endorsement from advocates, health agencies and the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, but witnesses and legislators pressed for concrete implementation steps: a usable caregiver registry, funding to run training and respite programs, and clearer regulatory language to make benefits operational.

José Acaron, representing ARP, told the commission that caregivers are central to the health system and that the bill’s aims grew from multi‑sector work and prior commissions. “el cuidador familiar, el informal, es 1 de los principales actores del sistema de salud,” Acaron said, arguing the bill should recognize the caregiver’s role, expand training, improve workplace flexibility and provide tools for financial planning.

Acaron gave several estimates and findings cited during the hearing: two‑thirds of people over 45 in Puerto Rico have caregiving experience; the island likely has…