Opinion

Reps. Cloutier and Arata: It’s time to give Maine’s family caregivers a tax break

Our older population deserves our respect, and so do the hardworking Mainers who care for them | Kristen S. Cloutier and Amy B. Arata, Special to the Press Herald | […]

Our older population deserves our respect, and so do the hardworking Mainers who care for them

| Kristen S. Cloutier and Amy B. Arata, Special to the Press Herald |

Mainers are a deeply caring people.

We don’t just mean that in the figurative sense. Mainers literally provide incredible care to their loved ones. According to a study recently released by AARP, a higher proportion of Mainers are caring for their aging family members, for longer periods, than in almost any other state in the country. Last year, 181,000 Mainers spent 152 million hours caring for their loved ones. As anyone who has cared for a loved one knows, this can be joyous work, but it can also be incredibly difficult – physically, emotionally and financially.

We need to recognize and support Mainers who are caring for their loved ones by acknowledging the sacrifices they’re making and by lightening their loads. That’s why, together, we’ve submitted a bipartisan piece of legislation to provide a $2,000 tax credit for family caregivers in Maine. It’s called L.D. 1919, An Act To Provide a Tax Credit for Family Caregivers. Keep reading