Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, listens during a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for Julie Su, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Washington. Credit: Alex Brandon / AP

BANGOR, Maine — Senators from Maine and Minnesota are working together on a proposal to expand training and support services for families and caregivers of people who have dementia.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act would authorize the use of grants for public and nonprofit organizations to “expand training and support services that improve caregiver health and delay long-term care facility admissions by keeping loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in their homes longer.”

More than 6 million people in America are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and the number is expected to grow to 13 million by 2050, the senators said.

Collins in a statement said the proposal would also help the millions of people in America who devote “enormous time and attention and make many personal and financial sacrifices” to ensure care for loved ones.