On December 6, the House approved, by voice vote, the Lifespan Respite Care Act (H.R. 3248). The Senate approved, by voice vote, the bill on December 8. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), would authorize grants to statewide respite care providers. The grants could be used to provide care for adults and/or children, training and recruiting respite care workers and/or family members, and providing information about available services to individuals. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure on September 20 (see The Source, 9/22/06).
The bill authorizes $30 million for FY2007, $40 million for FY2008, $53.3 million for FY2009, $71.1 million for FY2010, and $94.8 million for FY2011. It also establishes a National Resource Center on Lifespan Respite Care to maintain a database on respite care, provide technical assistance to states, and serve as an educational clearinghouse.
“This important bipartisan legislation will for the first time establish a national policy to help our nation’s 50 million family caregivers, including 900,000 New Jersey family caregivers who provide daily care for their loved ones with disabilities and chronic conditions or illnesses,” said Rep. Ferguson. He continued, saying, “Nationally, there is no coordinated approach that exists among different levels of government or advocacy groups to help those who need respite care to find it and to qualify for it and to pay for it. The problem is that respite care is in short supply or it doesn’t exist at all in some areas. This legislation that we are considering today would change that. The Lifespan Respite Care Act would improve coordination and access for respite care and recruit and train respite care providers. With $289 million over the next 5 years, the bill would also aid family caregivers in finding and paying for respite services through competitive grants to states to make quality respite care available and accessible, regardless of age or disability or family situation…Respite care improves the health and well-being of caregivers and reduces the risk of abuse or neglect. Importantly, it also delays or even avoids more costly hospitalizations or placements in nursing homes or foster care…Providing relief to our nation’s family caregivers is long overdue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Today’s action by this House will represent not only an important victory for family caregivers nationwide but also sends America’s caregivers a very clear message: Your selfless sacrifice is appreciated, and help is on the way.”
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) said, “An estimated 26 million Americans are currently caring for an adult family member who is chronically ill or disabled. Additionally, an estimated 18 million children have chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions that place significant demands on their parents. Family caregivers live in all of our communities and they are often silent heroes, ensuring family stability and helping those who struggle with disease or disability to avoid more costly institutional placements. While voluntary care is personally rewarding, it can result in substantial emotional, physical and financial strain on the caregiver. When one family member is caring for another, it doesn’t mean that the other responsibilities of the family simply stop. Children still need to be brought to school, food shopping still needs to be done, doctors appointments still need to be made and kept, particularly when it involves the caregiver themselves…Many lifespan respite programs are already in place at state and local levels, providing invaluable services to the families of people with chronic disease or disability. Yet in too many situations, caregivers simply don’t know how to find information about available respite care and access to these services. In other cases, respite care is simply unavailable to those who need it….By passing this legislation and committing to build upon successful existing programs, we can make a powerful statement to so many Americans who are silently struggling right now. It is a statement of gratitude for their many hours of work and a statement of support for when the challenges become too daunting.”
