AUGUSTA – On July 1, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law LD 815, sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, which will fund the Respite for ME Program to support Maine caregivers. The legislation that established the program permanently within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), LD 709, was signed into law in April.
This legislation is based on the success of a two-year Respite for ME pilot program which offered grants of up to $5,171 over two years to Mainers providing care to loved ones at home. The evaluation results of the program, which concluded in September 2024, clearly demonstrated its success, with participants reporting that they felt better equipped and more resilient in their ability to sustain their essential caregiving roles.
“Right now, nearly one in eight Mainers are providing caregiving support to a loved one, which could include taking care of aging parents, spouses or children with disabilities. Studies have shown that Mainers provide up to $2.9 billion in unpaid care annually,” said Cloutier. “This program will help give more of these caregivers the resources they need to be successful. Stakeholders like the Alzheimer’s Association of Maine, the Maine Council on Aging, AARP and others who fiercely advocated for this program are the reason it is now a reality, and I am grateful for their support throughout the last few years.”
LD 709 will permanently establish the Respite for ME Program. It directs DHHS to administer the program for the purpose of providing respite care and supplemental services for family caregivers and older relative caregivers. Codifying this program permanently into state law is critical in order to utilize all available federal, state and local resources.
LD 815 will work in partnership with LD 709 and provide ongoing funding to the Office of Aging and Disability Services within DHHS for respite care and supplemental services for family caregivers and older relative caregivers.
The new laws will go into effect on Sept. 24, 2025.
Rep. Kristen Cloutier is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents House District 94, which includes part of her hometown of Lewiston. She is the House chair of the Taxation Committee and serves as a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Cloutier) | 305-965-2744