October 16 | 2025 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Inclusive Long-Term Care Policies and Supports

The 2025 Harkin Retirement Security Symposium: Inclusive Long-Term Care Policies and Supports will convene policy-makers, researchers, and advocacy organizations working on long-term care policy. The program includes discussions on federal and state policies,  and workplace policies supporting caregivers, caregiving experiences and their impact on retirement security, as well as other resources to support caregivers and their families.

The cost of care has nearly doubled from the early 2000s to 2024, both for at-home care and nursing home care. These costs are out of reach for everyone except the wealthiest households. Long-term care costs are internalized by caregiver families in some combination of the following: diminished or lost earned income, early retirement, direct caregiving expenditures, and mental and physical health issues.  There are a variety of policy options to address this economic burden on families across the income distribution, which will be discussed as part of the program.