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“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 37--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF SENIOR CAREGIVING AND AFFORDABILITY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S8204 on July 28, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 37--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF
SENIOR CAREGIVING AND AFFORDABILITY
Mr. JOHANNS (for himself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
S. Con. Res. 37
Whereas 8,000 people in the United States turn 60 years old every day;
Whereas an estimated 35,900,000 people, 12.4 percent of the population, are 65 years of age and older;
Whereas the United States population age 65 and older is expected to more than double in the next 50 years to 86,700,000 in 2050;
Whereas the 85 and older population is projected to reach 9,600,000 in 2030, and double again to 20,900,000 in 2050;
Whereas it is estimated that 4,500,000 people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease today;
Whereas it is estimated that number will increase to between 11,300,000 and 16,000,000 by 2050;
Whereas 70 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias live at home, and these individuals are examples of individuals who need assistance in the home with activities of daily living;
Whereas more than 25 percent of all seniors need some level of assistance with activities of daily living;
Whereas so as to address the surging population of seniors who have significant needs for in-home care, the field of senior caregiving will continue to grow;
Whereas there are an estimated 44,000,000 adults in the United States providing care to adult relatives or friends and an estimated 725,000 nonfamily private paid senior caregivers;
Whereas both unpaid family caregivers and paid caregivers work together to serve the daily living needs of seniors who live in their own homes;
Whereas the Department of Labor estimated that paid caregivers for the year 2006 worked a total of 835,000,000 hours, and the projected hours of paid senior caregivers are estimated to increase to 4,350,000,000 hours by 2025; and
Whereas the longer a senior is able to provide for his or her own care, the less burden is placed on public payment systems in Federal and State governments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes caregiving as a profession;
(2) supports the private home care industry and the efforts of family caregivers throughout the United States by encouraging individuals to provide care to family, friends, and neighbors;
(3) encourages alternatives to make caregiving for seniors even more accessible and affordable through reviews of Federal policies that relate to caregiving for seniors;
(4) supports current Federal programs that address the accessibility and affordability needs of seniors and their family caregivers; and
(5) encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue working to educate people in the United States on the impact of aging and the importance of knowing the options available to seniors when they need care to meet their personal needs.
Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the importance of the senior caregiving community. In the U.S., over 36 million people are 65 years of age or older, which is approximately 12 percent of the population. That number is expected to double by the year 2025 as the baby-boomers fully enter their golden years.
Thus, while senior caregivers are playing an important role now, this profession will be even more important in the future. The people who provide care to millions of seniors across this country provide a great service not only to these individuals, but also to their families and our communities, as a whole.
It is estimated that 25 percent of all seniors need some level of assistance to complete their daily activities. Senior companions provide a wide-range of services, such as medication reminders, housekeeping, meal preparation, travel assistance, and general companionship. These services enable seniors to stay in their own homes and stay engaged in their communities--which can make all the difference in the world when it comes to their happiness.
I have talked to seniors who are helped by caregivers and they use words like guardian angel and lifesaver to describe them. Senior caregiver services are a much preferred alternative for seniors who desire to maintain their independence. They also offer families peace of mind, knowing their loved one is being taken care of in a safe and affordable manner.
The senior caregiving profession is part of the solution to the challenges our country faces as we continue to age. Currently, an estimated 44 million adults in this country provide care to adult relatives or friends, and an estimated 725,000 non-family, privately-
paid individuals are senior caregivers. The caregiving profession will continue to grow in prominence and demand as the senior population rises.
That is why I am happy to introduce a resolution with my colleague, Senator Casey, to honor senior caregivers and the private home care industry. We salute those who provide such quality care for so many Americans. It also encourages individuals to reach out and provide these services to their family, friends, and neighbors.
We need to examine federal policy alternatives to make caregiving for seniors more accessible and more affordable for families. If we can keep seniors in their homes, instead of nursing facilities, we accomplish a number of goals. We preserve the independence and dignity of our seniors. That alone is significant. But, it also saves money in a health care system facing skyrocketing costs and soon-to-be insolvent programs.
This resolution encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue working to educate aging Americans about the assistance options available for seniors. Senior caregivers are doing a great service to this country and I commend them for it.
It is an indisputable fact that we will all grow old, thus this issue will sooner or later affect every American. Therefore, it is important to have access to quality, affordable caregiving services in every community. Caregiving is a profession that will continue to grow in prominence and need as the senior population rises. Again, I thank the senior caregivers for their service to Americans throughout this nation, and I am pleased to offer this resolution on their behalf.
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