For many families raising a loved one with a lifelong disability, one question never goes away: What happens when I’m no longer here?
That’s the problem Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman and congressional candidate Oliver Gilbert says he wants to tackle through his proposed CARE Act if elected to Congress. The plan is designed to create a comprehensive support system for Americans with lifelong disabilities by focusing on five major areas: long-term care, stable housing, healthcare, community integration and ensuring every person has an advocate throughout their life.
Gilbert, who is the father of a son with special needs, has often spoken about the importance of building communities that work for every family. While many disability programs focus on children, the CARE Act centers on what happens as people with disabilities become adults and eventually outlive their parents or primary caregivers.
Although the campaign has not yet released legislative text, the proposal outlines a vision where Americans with lifelong disabilities would not have to navigate adulthood alone. The plan calls for ensuring they have access to healthcare, affordable housing, opportunities to remain connected to their communities and someone legally empowered to advocate for their needs throughout every stage of life.
For many families, those issues are among their biggest concerns. Parents often spend decades coordinating medical care, educational services, government benefits and housing for their children. As caregivers age, many worry about who will continue making those decisions or ensuring their loved one receives the support they need after they’re gone.
If enacted, supporters say legislation like the CARE Act could help provide greater stability by creating a more coordinated approach to disability services instead of leaving families to piece together assistance from multiple agencies and programs. Disability advocates have long argued that people with lifelong disabilities often face barriers to healthcare, housing and community-based services, making long-term planning critical.
The CARE Act is one of several policy proposals Gilbert has rolled out as part of his congressional campaign, alongside plans addressing healthcare, childcare, transportation and small business development.
Key things readers should know about the CARE Act:
- It is intended to support Americans with lifelong disabilities, not just children.
- The proposal focuses on care, housing, healthcare, community inclusion and lifelong advocacy.
- It seeks to address a major concern for many parents and caregivers: who will care for their loved one after they are no longer able to do so.
- Gilbert’s campaign says the goal is to ensure people with disabilities have support throughout their entire lives rather than aging out of services or navigating fragmented systems alone.
For more information on the CARE ACT Click Here.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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