THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

35

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

urging the governor, department of health, department of human services, and university of hawaii TO recognize the importance of the contributions of family caregivers and to support them in serving the state's long-term care needs.

 

 

WHEREAS, it is the preference of those who need long-term care to receive assistance and services at home and to stay in their communities and near family and friends for as long as possible; and

WHEREAS, formal home care services nationwide are estimated to annually cost about $32,000,000,000, and nursing home services annually cost about $83,000,000,000; and

WHEREAS, about two-thirds of the elderly living in the community rely solely on informal help primarily from wives and adult daughters, and providing care has become more difficult for family caregivers because those individuals who need long-term care are living longer; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that family caregivers provide over 80 percent of home care services and over 90 percent of all long-term care services in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the care provided annually by family caregivers nationwide has a value of approximately $196,000,000,000; and

WHEREAS, long-term care costs continue to rise, and it is in the interest of the State to devise mechanisms to assist family caregivers who care for the elderly and who provide long-term care at-home; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Legislature urges the Governor, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and the University of Hawaii to recognize the importance of the contributions of family caregivers and to support them to the extent possible, as a state objective in serving the long-term care needs of its residents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, Director of Human Services, and President of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

importance of the contributions of family caregivers