Medicare's Caregiver Training Benefit Has Reached Fewer Than 10,000 People

Family members who care for aging or ill relatives often face physical tasks they have never been trained to perform. They may struggle to lift a fallen loved one, manage medical equipment, or handle wounds without professional guidance. This gap in practical skills creates anxiety and can lead to injury for both the patient and the caregiver.

The federal government introduced a Medicare training benefit in 2024 to address this issue. The program allows healthcare providers to bill for services that teach family caregivers how to administer medication, prevent bedsores, and move patients safely. Despite this new coverage, the service has been underutilized since its launch.

An AARP study found that Medicare paid claims for this training to only about 9,600 recipients in the first year and a half. This is a small fraction of the 63 million family caregivers in the United States. Experts cite a lack of awareness among both patients and providers as the primary barrier to access.

Rita Choula, senior director of caregiving at the AARP Public Policy Institute, said the healthcare system relies heavily on family members to perform medical tasks. However, there is no consistent system to support them while they do so. AARP research indicates that 40% of caregivers provide high-intensity care, including giving injections and preparing special diets. Yet, only about one in five of these individuals receives any formal training.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services stated via email that it has included information about the benefit in its annual 'Medicare & You' handbook. The agency said it is monitoring the implementation of these services and exploring new ways to raise awareness. It declined an interview to discuss the low uptake rates.

State programs offer another avenue for support, though they vary widely in scope and visibility. Minnesota has a unique model with a state-funded profession dedicated to caregiver coaching. The program operates through 42 agencies and employs 105 certified consultants. These professionals serve roughly 17,300 caregivers annually at no cost to families, using funds from the federal Older Americans Act.

Maureen Schneider, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging, described the role as a collaborative partnership. Consultants provide hands-on training in areas such as dementia care, grief, and financial planning. They stay with families for months or even years. Ron Patrick, now 85, credited a consultant named Jayne Mund with teaching him how to safely lift his wife, Vangie, after she suffered falls. This instruction helped him make the difficult decision to move her to a skilled nursing facility.

In Wisconsin, similar services are available through county-based coordinators and a free platform called Trualta. The platform relaunched in 2025 after a funding gap. Margaret Ricchio, a caregiver support coordinator in Kenosha County, said families often arrive at her door in crisis. She noted that the state does little to promote these resources, relying instead on word of mouth and casual referrals.

California ended a specific grant program called CalGrows in October 2024. The initiative had used $89 million in federal funds to provide 850 trainings in 10 languages for caregivers. Claire Ramsey, acting director for the California Department of Aging, said the state continues to connect caregivers to resources through its Master Plan for Aging. However, local officials like Eileen Norman in San Francisco report that many families still do not know about available Medicare benefits.

The lack of centralized information leaves many caregivers to figure out their roles on their own. They often discover support networks only after they have already faced the most difficult moments of care. Alice Thomas, who cared for her father with dementia, said she found bruising on his body while bathing him but did not know how to react. She called 911 at 3 a.m. after he fell and she could not lift him. Her experience illustrates the disconnect between the need for training and the availability of the benefits designed to provide it.