[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 82 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS WEEK

  The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 153) 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'' was considered, ordered to be 
engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The joint resolution, and the preamble, are as follows:

                             S.J. Res. 153

       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.

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