Harkin Institute 2025 Symposium: Long-Term Care & Retirement Security
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Harkin institute retirement Security Symposium to Address Caregiving and Retirement
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A symposium hosted by the Harkin Institute at Drake University will explore the intersection of caregiving, retirement security, and relevant policy options on August 18, 2025, at KFF’s Barbara Jordan Conference Center in Washington, D.C., and via livestream.
Published: August 25, 2023 (Updated for 2025 event)
event Overview
The 2025 Harkin Institute Retirement Security Symposium will focus on the significant challenges faced by family caregivers and the impact of caregiving responsibilities on their long-term financial well-being. The event will delve into federal, state, and workplace policies designed to support caregivers, examine the lived experiences of those providing care, and analyze the economic burdens associated with at-home care.
Attendees will have the prospect to learn about a range of policy proposals aimed at alleviating the financial strain on families providing unpaid care.The symposium will be held both in person at KFF’s Barbara Jordan Conference center and accessible via virtual livestream, expanding it’s reach to a wider audience. More details and registration information are available on the Harkin Institute website.
The Growing Caregiving Crisis and Retirement Security
the number of Americans needing long-term care is rapidly increasing due to an aging population. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2020, approximately one in five U.S. adults (21%) had provided unpaid care to an adult in the past 12 months. This caregiving often comes at a significant personal and financial cost.
Caregivers frequently experience reduced work hours, lost wages, and diminished opportunities for career advancement. A 2023 report by AARP found that family caregivers spend an average of 30 hours per week providing care, translating to a ample economic impact. This time commitment can severely hinder their ability to save for retirement, impacting their future financial security.
Key Policy Areas to be Discussed
The symposium is expected to address several critical policy areas,including:
- Federal Programs: examination of existing federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid and their role in supporting long-term care,as well as potential expansions or new initiatives.
- state Initiatives: Discussion of innovative state-level policies, such as paid family leave programs and caregiver tax credits, designed to provide financial relief and support. For example, states like California, Massachusetts, and Washington have implemented paid family leave programs, offering partial wage replacement to workers taking time off to care for family members. The U.S. Department of labor provides a state-by-state overview of paid leave laws.
- Workplace policies: Exploration of employer-sponsored benefits and policies that support caregivers, such as flexible work arrangements, caregiver leave, and employee assistance programs.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: analysis of the role of long-term care insurance in mitigating the financial burden of care, including potential reforms to make it more affordable and accessible.
- Tax Credits and Deductions: Review of existing tax benefits for caregivers and consideration of new tax incentives to alleviate the financial strain of