Family caregivers are the invisible backbone of New Hampshire's care system, with one in four adults1—that's 281,000 people—providing unpaid care valued at $2.8 billion annually.2 These caregivers, who care for older adults or raise grandchildren when parents cannot, provide essential support that keeps loved ones together at home. Caregiving can be both rewarding and challenging, yet caregivers often don't receive the resources and support they need to sustain their critical work. This gap takes a significant toll on their own physical, mental, and financial well-being.1 Strengthening caregiver support can protect caregivers' health while keeping families together and delaying or preventing more costly care options.
2026 legislation will support Granite State family and kinship caregivers to ensure they have the resources they need to continue caring for their loved ones.
Take Action
Share Your Story
Are you a family or kinship caregiver?
Please share your experience with us! Consider the following questions in your response:
- What brings you joy as a caregiver?
- What are your struggles as a caregiver?
- What would help you to be better supported as a caregiver?
- Does this include child care? Formal training? Peer support?
- How would these supports help you and the person you care for?
- Is there anything else you want lawmakers to know about caregiving?
Spread the Word: Advocacy Brief
Need help? Contact Martha McLeod (Vice President of Community Engagment) for help taking action or Judith Jones (Healthy Aging Policy Coordinator) with policy questions.
About the Bill
A 2026 bill addresses critical gaps in New Hampshire's caregiver support systems. It increases resources for caregivers through:
Family Caregiver Support
The bill provides support services for people who care for individuals enrolled in two Medicaid wavier programs, the Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI) programs. This support may include counseling, education and training, peer support, caregiver assessment, and other supports that help caregivers continue providing cost effective care in the community.
Child Care Support for Kinship Caregivers
The bill improves access to affordable child care for grandparents and other relatives raising children. Adults of retirement age (67+) will no longer need to work to qualify for the NH Child Care Scholarship Program, and families won't have to pay the cost-share for children in kinship care.
This legislation makes caregivers visible and offers important support that acknowledges their work, addresses their needs, and ensures they have the resources to continue providing care without sacrificing their own well-being.
Learn More: Challenges Caregivers Face
Challenges Facing Family Caregivers in New Hampshire
Family caregivers face significant gaps in training and support. While 99% assist with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as meal preparation, medication administration, and financial management, only 11% have received any training for these tasks. Similarly, over half manage complex medical and nursing tasks, but only 20% have received formal training.3
Caregivers also experience emotional and financial stress. Nearly one in four report feeling socially isolated3, and 43% experience moderate to high levels of emotional stress.1 The financial toll is substantial as well, with 44% having faced at least one negative financial impact, including taking on debt, stopping savings, or being unable to afford basic expenses.3
The Grandfamily Income Gap
Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren on their own often face financial strain. These families earn a median income of about $54,000, which is less than half the state's typical family income of $119,000.4
Bill
Status
Fall 2025: A Legislative Service Request has been filed for this bill. Next, the bill text will be released, likely in late December or early January.
You can learn more about how New Hampshire's legislative process works on our About the Legislature webpage, or take one of our advocacy trainings.
References
- Caregiving in the US 2025: Spotlight on New Hampshire (2025, October). AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/cgus-2025-caring-across-states/caregiving-in-the-us-2025-spotlight-on-new-hampshire.doi.10.26419-2fppi.00383.043.pdf
- Family Caregiving in New Hampshire (2025). New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging. https://nhaha.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Caregiving-one-pager_110325.pdf
- Caregiving in the US 2025 (2025, July). AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-us-2025.doi.10.26419-2fppi.00373.001.pdf
- NHFPI Staff (2025, September 2). Granite State Grandparents – By the Numbers. New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. https://nhfpi.org/blog/granite-state-grandparents-by-the-numbers/
