Friends and family members who care for elders are on their own, for the most part, dependent on whatever aid organizations they can connect with that might provide respite or assistance of one kind or another.

But that's not the case in Hawaii—at least not any longer—after Governor David Ige signed the Kupuna Caregivers Assistance Act into law. A Quartz report explains that the Hawaiian word "kupuna" roughly translates to elder, grandparent, or an esteemed older person, and that the new law—which took effect earlier this month—provides those who care for an elderly family member while also working at least 30 hours a week with a stipend of up to $70 per day.

Caregivers can use the money for anything that allows them to avoid missing work due to their caregiving duties—hiring a part-time health aide, for instance, or paying for meal deliveries or cleaning services. It can also replace caregiver income lost to carrying out those duties themselves and losing time from work as a result. While it's certainly not enough to underwrite all the expenses of caregiving, it certainly helps—and might serve as a role model to the rest of the country.