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Georgia Senate study committee hears caregivers' pleas for training, respite and stronger dementia supports
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Summary
At a Senate study committee meeting in Augusta, experts and family caregivers described long-term unpaid caregiving, rural and racial disparities, gaps in training and rehabilitation coverage, and urged expanded supports including Georgia MemoryNet access, respite, workplace flexibility and targeted outreach to Black caregivers.
At a Senate study committee meeting on improving family caregiver services in Augusta, state and national experts, advocates and family members described the mounting social and economic strain of unpaid family caregiving and urged policy changes to strengthen training, respite and better access to dementia diagnosis and follow-up care.
Senator Harold Jones said the committee's work grew from personal experience and the need to spotlight a problem he described as "we're unpaid health care workers," calling for practical solutions that make caregiving less isolating and more sustainable. The session featured presentations from Deborah Miner, aging services director for the local Area Agency on Aging, Wallace White of AARP, and representatives from the Alzheimer's Association and local providers.
Deborah Miner outlined demographic trends, saying Georgia's older population is growing rapidly and disproportionately in rural counties, and that older adults in Georgia face higher rates of poverty and chronic conditions. Miner noted federal Older Americans Act funding and Medicaid as major funding sources for services and described how limited local capacity and transportation gaps raise risks for rural caregivers.
Wallace White of AARP summarized national and state data, noting that tens of millions of Americans provide unpaid care and that caregivers frequently reduce work hours or leave the labor force. He highlighted policy tools used in other states, including larger nonrefundable tax credits and structured Medicaid caregiver programs, and described AARP's state caregiver resource guide and outreach materials for Georgia.
Multiple presenters emphasized dementia-focused supports. Dr. Ken Hepburn of Emory described Georgia MemoryNet's network of memory assessment clinics and telehealth options that give families a definitive diagnosis and a caregiver care plan. He and other panelists said caregiver training programs such as the Savvy Caregiver model reduce emotional distress and improve caregivers' confidence.
Panelists and caregivers described common requests: clearer discharge planning and training at the hospital point of contact, more reliable in-home and respite services, improved workplace flexibility for employed caregivers, and better navigation resources so families know where to turn. Caregivers in Augusta described long hours, sleep loss and financial strain; one speaker who runs a local campus-based program said day services and support groups produced immediate relief for families.
Committee members asked about rural access, workforce shortages, and how to expand proven programs. Presenters recommended bolstering primary care screening, increasing the reach of Georgia MemoryNet and investing in culturally tailored outreach and peer support to reach underserved populations.
The committee did not take votes. Senators and presenters said the next meeting will examine economic supports and service availability in greater detail.
