We talk a lot about protecting the next generation – and rightfully so, but what about the last one?
As a home health care worker in Alabama’s urban and rural communities, I’ve seen firsthand the everyday struggles Alabamians face while caring for aging parents or loved ones with disabilities. Whether it’s buying medical equipment, covering prescription costs, modifying a home for safety, or paying a caregiver a few hours a week just to remain employed, those costs add up fast. For many families, it becomes more than overwhelming. What makes it worse is that our tax system fails to acknowledge the financial and personal sacrifices these individuals make daily for their loved ones.
These are not people looking for a handout. They’re doing what’s right, showing up, stepping in, and caring for the people who once cared for them. They are honoring their responsibilities and living out the very values most of us were raised on.
Yet while these families do everything they can to care for those they love, the government continues to take its cut, right off the top. The men and women who quietly sacrifice day in and day out for those in their final chapters deserve better. That begins with changing how we treat caregiving in our tax code.
That’s why I’m proposing a non-refundable Elder Care Tax Credit – a simple, flat credit allowing family caregivers to keep more of what they earn so they can cover what truly matters. It’s not a check. It’s not a new government program. It’s common sense. It means allowing families to keep more of their own hard-earned income so they can provide the kind of care they believe in – at home, with dignity, and without the added burden of a tax system that ignores their reality.
This credit would be available to anyone caring for an elderly or disabled family member – whether a parent, grandparent, spouse, or another dependent relative who relies on them every day. It would help families cover:
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Home safety modifications
- Mobility equipment and medical transportation
- Occasionally, hiring a caregiver so the primary family member can continue to work or simply rest
Most importantly, it would finally recognize the value of unpaid care. Right now, the tax code provides only minimal relief if you pay someone else to provide care so you can remain employed – through the already dismal Child and Dependent Care Credit. However, if you take on the responsibility yourself – giving up hours, income, sleep, and peace of mind – your burden goes unrecognized. That’s not just shortsighted. It’s a failure to acknowledge the very people holding our care system together.
Without family caregivers, many seniors would have no choice but to enter nursing homes funded by Medicaid — a scenario that’s not only more expensive for taxpayers but also often goes against the wishes of those families. By keeping loved ones at home, these families are doing more than honoring their obligations — they are saving public resources and providing better, more personal care in the process.
We already have a Child Tax Credit because we recognize the cost of raising children and the value of investing in the next generation. We should have something similar for those caring for aging parents or disabled relatives—not to create another entitlement, but to bring consistency to the tax code and offer relief families can count on. This is not about expanding government. It’s about allowing Americans to keep more of what they’ve earned to meet the responsibilities they’ve already accepted.
Some in Washington believe the solution to every problem is a new federal program. I do not. I believe the strongest safety net we have is still the family. When we strengthen families, we strengthen the nation. Our policies should reflect that. They should respect those who sacrifice without applause, who give without compensation – those who quietly carry the weight so that someone else can live with dignity.
This is not about politics. It is about priorities. You should not be punished by the IRS for doing what’s right. You certainly should not be taxed into hardship because you chose to step up instead of stepping aside. If we want to restore this country, we must begin by restoring respect for work, for sacrifice, and for family. That starts by giving families the freedom to care for their loved ones without being penalized. The Elder Care Tax Credit is a modest, reasonable way to shift the burden away from those who are already carrying more than their share. At the end of the day, it’s not Washington’s money, it’s yours.
Case Dixon is a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Alabama’s 6th District.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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