Caregiver organizations are decrying recent comments made by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. that they believe diminish the value of paid family caregivers in Medicaid home- and community-based services.

Alzheimer’s and related diseases don’t just affect memory. They also bring behavioral and psychological challenges known as neuropsychiatric symptoms, or NPS. These can include anxiety, depression, agitation, and sleep disturbances, making life difficult for both patients and caregivers. As symptoms progress, so do the risks of injury, isolation, and the need for institutional care, often worsened by stigma and limited support.