[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 59 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.59
                                    Agreed to September 23, 2009        

                      One Hundred Eleventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas 8,000 people in the United States turn 60 years old every day;

Whereas an estimated 35,900,000 people, 12.4 percent of the population, 
  are 65 years of age and older;

Whereas the United States population age 65 and older is expected to 
  more than double in the next 50 years to 86,700,000 in 2050;

Whereas the 85 and older population is projected to reach 9,600,000 in 
  2030 and double again to 20,900,000 in 2050;

Whereas it is estimated that 4,500,000 people in the United States have 
  Alzheimer's disease today;

Whereas it is estimated that number will increase to between 11,300,000 
  and 16,000,000 by 2050;

Whereas 70 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease and other 
  dementias live at home, and these individuals are examples of 
  individuals who need assistance in their homes with their 
  ``activities of daily living'';

Whereas currently over 25 percent of all seniors need some level of 
  assistance with their ``activities of daily living'';

Whereas in order to address the surging population of seniors who have 
  significant needs for in-home care, the field of senior caregiving 
  will continue to grow;

Whereas there are an estimated 44,000,000 adults in the United States 
  providing care to adult relatives or friends and an estimated 725,000 
  nonfamily private paid senior caregivers;

Whereas both unpaid family caregivers and paid caregivers work together 
  to serve the daily living needs of seniors who live in their own 
  homes;

Whereas the Department of Labor estimated that paid caregivers for the 
  year 2006 worked a total of 835,000,000 hours, and the projected 
  hours of paid senior caregivers are estimated to increase to 
  4,350,000,000 hours by 2025; and

Whereas the longer a senior is able to provide for his or her own care, 
  the less burden is placed on public payment systems in State and 
  Federal governments: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
        (1) recognizes caregiving as a profession;
        (2) supports the private home care industry and the efforts of 
    family caregivers nationwide by encouraging individuals to provide 
    care to family, friends, and neighbors;
        (3) encourages accessible and affordable care for seniors;
        (4) reviews Federal policies and supports current Federal 
    programs which address the needs of seniors and their family 
    caregivers; and
        (5) encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
    continue working to educate people in the United States on the 
    impact of aging and the importance of knowing the options available 
    to seniors when they need care to meet their personal needs.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.