Reps. Wojno, Dennis, Spade, Stallworth, Waters, Accavitti, Bieda, Brown, Casperson, Caul, Elkins, Farhat, Garfield, Gieleghem, Gillard, Gleason, Hardman, Hopgood, Jamnick, Law, Lipsey, Minore, Palmer, Pappageorge, Rocca, Sak, Sheltrown, Vander Veen, Voorhees, Woodward, Zelenko, Tobocman and Byrum offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 113.

            A resolution to urge the United States Congress to support the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003.

            Whereas, An estimated 26,000 Americans care for one or more adult family members or friends who are disabled, chronically ill, or terminally ill.  In addition, almost 25 percent of the nation’s elderly experience multiple chronic disabling conditions that make it necessary to rely on others for help in meeting their daily needs; and

            Whereas, Every year approximately 600,000 Americans die at home and many of these individuals rely on extensive family caregiving before their deaths.  The family caregiver role is personally rewarding, but it can result in substantial emotional, physical, and financial hardship.  Of those individuals needing assistance in daily living, nearly 42 percent are under the age of 65; and

            Whereas, Current respite care programs are insufficient to meet the needs of this underserved population.  Moreover, the limited available respite care programs find it difficult to recruit appropriately trained respite workers; and

            Whereas, The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003 will encourage the creation of state and local lifespan care programs.  It will help improve the coordination and dissemination of respite care information and resources to family caregivers.  It will also support evaluative research to identify effective respite care services that alleviate, reduce, or minimize any negative consequences of caregiving.  Further, the act will promote innovative, flexible, and comprehensive approaches to respite care delivery and support training programs helping family caregivers to make informed decisions about respite care services; and

            Whereas, The Michigan House of Representatives has begun work on legislation that complements the Lifespan Respite Care Act.  With its passage, Michigan will be better prepared to assist individuals in caregiving; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the United States Congress to support the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.