HR0080 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0080 LRB098 10809 GRL 41267 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The population of the State of Illinois that is 85 years of age or older is projected to rise from 260,000 in 2012 to 392,000 in 2032; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, 70% of people with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder live at home and need assistance with activities of daily living; and

WHEREAS, Almost 3/4 of older people living in Illinois who received personal assistance relied exclusively on unpaid caregivers for help; 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 cost-effective services in their homes are much less likely to need public assistance; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 2,430,000 adults in the State provide care to adult relatives or friends, which equates to an estimated 1.59 billion hours a year and an estimated value of $18.8 billion each year; 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 support their aging relatives and develop ways to recruit and retain a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the dedicated work of family caregivers throughout the State and will continue to seek additional ways to support these individuals through information, education, training, and relief care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize caregiving for older adults as a vital and needed profession today and in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Department on Aging to create a special workgroup that focuses on recruiting, retaining, and supporting family and paid caregivers and strongly encourage the Department to create 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 the members of this body pledge to review State policies and support current State programs that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Department on Aging to continue providing additional information and education on supporting older adults in their homes through both family caregivers and paid professional caregivers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Department on Aging.