2014 -- S 2781

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LC005131

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING AND COMMENDING THE DEDICATED WORK OF FAMILY

CAREGIVERS

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Miller, Cool Rumsey, DiPalma, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, The population of the state that is 85 years of age or older and most likely to

need caregiving assistance is projected to reach 39,000 in 2032 (a 37 percent increase from 2012);

and

     WHEREAS, Almost all older adults who need assistance with activities of daily living

want to remain in their homes and communities; and

     WHEREAS, Providing services and supports to older adults in their homes and

communities is generally much less expensive than nursing home care; and

     WHEREAS, Older adults who receive services from caregivers in their homes are much

less likely to need public assistance; and

     WHEREAS, Almost three-fourths of older people living in the community who received

personal assistance relied exclusively on unpaid caregivers for help; and

     WHEREAS, An estimated 217,000 adults in the state provide care to adult relatives or

friends, which equates to an estimated 142 million hours a year and an estimated value of $1.88

billion each year; and

     WHEREAS, Nationally 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related

disorder live at home and need assistance with activities of daily living; and

     WHEREAS, To successfully address the surging population of older adults who have

significant needs for long-term services and supports, the state must develop methods to both

encourage and support families to assist their aging relatives and develop ways to recruit and

retain a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby supports the dedicated work of family caregivers statewide and will continue to seek

additional ways to support these individuals through information, education, training, and relief

care; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby recognizes caregiving for older adults as a vital and

needed profession today and in the future and strongly encourages additional innovative and

creative means to support family caregivers to continue to provide needed in-home support for

older adults; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate will hereby continue to review state policies and support

current state programs that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers and will support

the efforts of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that focuses on supporting the

family and paid caregivers; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island and

the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

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LC005131

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