Congress Considers The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003. This bill would give Federal grants to states that establish a coordinated system of respite (breaks) for family caregivers of all ages.

We provide this free financial resource to visitors of the Community Room of SeniorSSuperStoreS in an effort to keep baby boomers, seniors and the elderly informed of matters that can affect their lifestyle.

Background:

Family members and other informal caregivers are the backbone of our long term care system, providing largely unpaid assistance to loved ones with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

An estimated one in three Americans, or about 52 million persons, care each year for one or more ill or disabled family members or friends of all ages (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1998). The caregiver role results in enormous emotional, physical and financial hardships, even though it is willingly undertaken and often a source of great personal satisfaction.

Caregivers commonly experience a sense of burden, fair-to-poor physical health and high rates of depression. Worries over paying for care especially plague middle income families who are not eligible for public benefits, yet cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs of care. Half, or more, of family caregivers juggle work, family and caregiving responsibilities, resulting in work disruptions and lost productivity.

Caregiving will preoccupy American families well into the 21st century, as the baby boomers join the ranks of older Americans. The coming demographic transformation and changing patterns of family life will only intensify demands on family caregivers.

Thus, caregiver support has become a salient policy issue in debates on Capitol Hill, in state legislatures and in workplaces across the country. In fact, many decision-makers in both the public and private sectors are personally affected by caregiving; they themselves are providing care to older parents, spouses and other relatives and friends.

Because states have had an increasingly greater responsibility for the financing, eligibility, coverage and delivery of long term care services, many state policymakers show a strong interest in sustaining family caregivers. Although caregiving and long term care command attention in state legislatures and while caregiver support programs play an important role in the everyday lives of families, information on state-supported programs for caregivers is limited.

Respite and Caregiver Support Issues are Top Priorities in the 108th Congress

Congress has understandably been focused on issues related to the war in Iraq and now on taxes and budget issues. Use this opportunity to contact your Representatives and Senators and speak out on respite and other family issues that cannot be neglected despite these difficult times. In fact, respite and family supports may be more critical now than ever before.

Reach out to your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support final passage of the Lifespan Respite Care Act and other legislation important to respite and the families served!

Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003 (S. 538) Passes Senate

The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003 (S. 538) unanimously passed the Senate on April 10, 2003. It appropriates $90.5 million for the next 3 years.

Now attention turns to the House, which can take up the Senate bill for consideration, or proceed to consideration by the House Energy and Commerce Committee of the House Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 1083), which differs only slightly from the Senate bill. (The House version gives no amount of appropriation.)

This bill would give grants to states that apply the means to establish a coordinated system of respite (breaks) for family caregivers of all ages, especially the senior citizen population. It would encourage all organizations concerned about respite to work together. If states plan for it, the bill would allow expenditures on respite care services and could provide funds to recruit, train, and monitor respite providers. It would encourage states to develop services to fill in gaps and target populations and areas with highest need for respite.

House Action: Contact your Representatives and urge them to cosponsor the House Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 1083), push for quick consideration of the bill, and move to final passage!

Senators can be reached by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or to email them, log onto www.congress.org. Letters do not reach our lawmakers quickly due to national security measures.