[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 153 Referred in House (RFH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 153


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 1994

       Referred to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  To designate the week beginning on November 21, 1993 and ending on 
  November 27, 1993, and the week beginning on November 20, 1994 and 
  ending on November 26, 1994, as ``National Family Caregivers Week''.

Whereas the number of Americans who are age 65 or older is growing dramatically, 
        with an unprecedented increase in the number of frail elderly age 85 or 
        older;
Whereas approximately 5,200,000 older persons have disabilities that leave them 
        in need of help with their daily tasks, including food preparation, 
        dressing, and bathing;
Whereas families provide help to older persons with such tasks, in addition to 
        providing between 80 and 90 percent of the medical care, household 
        maintenance, transportation, and shopping needed by older persons;
Whereas 80 percent of disabled elderly persons receive care from their family 
        members, most of whom are their wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law, 
        who often must sacrifice employment opportunities to provide such care;
Whereas family caregivers are often physically and emotionally exhausted from 
        the amount of time and stress involved in caregiving activities, and 
        therefore need information about available community resources for 
        respite care and other support services;
Whereas the contributions of family caregivers help maintain strong family ties 
        and assure support among generations; and
Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of and support for the care 
        that family caregivers are providing older persons: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning on 
November 21, 1993 and ending on November 27, 1993, and the week 
beginning on November 20, 1994 and ending on November 26, 1994, are 
each designated ``National Family Caregivers Week'', and the President 
is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the 
people of the United States to observe such weeks with appropriate 
programs, ceremonies, and activities.

            Passed the Senate June 24 (legislative day, June 7), 1994.

            Attest:

                                                MARTHA S. POPE,

                                                             Secretary.