John, 

Imagine getting sued for asking for the care you need. 

For 18-year-old Alexis Ratcliff in North Carolina, that’s the impossible situation she is facing. Ratcliff is quadriplegic, uses a ventilator, and has lived in a hospital since she was 13 because the supports to keep her at home and in her community were not available. When the hospital tried to move her to a nursing home in a different state, she refused, preferring to find a house or apartment nearby where she could access care while staying close to her family. Alexis deserves the right to receive care in her own home and community.

Alexis is not alone in this predicament. As of September 2023, nearly 7,000 people aged 30 and under live in American nursing homes, when they would rather be at home. We need to do better for people of all ages who want to receive life-saving care at home. We need to expand access to home- and community-based care.

Our elected leaders need to hear from us and know that this is a priority. Tell Congress to take action to expand home- and community-based services.

We all deserve to receive care in our own homes and communities. But too often, that’s out of reach for aging and disabled people. In fact, the majority of people in the U.S. report it’s difficult to find affordable care that meets their needs. And with a rapidly aging population, this challenge is only going to get harder.

Care shouldn’t have to come at the expense of our agency and dignity. It’s unacceptable to force people like Alexis into nursing homes when they’re asking for access to home-based care. 

Expanding investments in aging and disability care would allow us all to access affordable, high-quality care when we need it most.

But we need our elected leaders to take action, and that won’t happen unless they hear from us. Call on Congress now.

Together, we can create a care system that better serves people like Alexis – and provides the support we all need. Thank you for your advocacy.

With care,

Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns & Advocacy
Caring Across Generations