[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as you may know, November is National 
Family Caregivers Month, and I rise today to celebrate and honor our 
nation's caregivers. Nationwide, more than 25 million caregivers 
annually provide over $200 billion in unpaid care to their loved ones 
with disabling and chronic conditions. More importantly, this voluntary 
care allows seniors and others to continue living at home, which 
improves their spirits and often speeds up recovery.
  Family caregiving comes in many forms--from the mother raising a 
child with developmental disabilities and fighting for her child's 
right to an education, to the wife caring for her husband with 
Alzheimer's Disease and enduring that anguish. There are as many unique 
situations as there are family caregivers. But, what these caregivers 
all have in common is their compassion, their dedication and their 
selflessness. Family caregiving contributes to family stability, and it 
often spares families from more costly, out-of-home placements. These 
people are the quiet heroes of our nation. However, too often, they are 
also silent sufferers.
  Most caregivers freely and willingly provide this care out of love 
and commitment, but often at great cost to themselves physically, 
emotionally, and financially. Studies show that many caregivers stretch 
themselves so thin that they jeopardize their own health and ability to 
provide continued care to their dependent loved ones.
  In my home state of Rhode Island, Tracey Laranjo is the mother of 
ten-year-old Tyler. Tyler is bipolar and suffers from Severe Attention 
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and 
certain developmental disabilities. Tyler is also an important member 
of the Laranjo family--the gifts and the love he brings to his parents 
and older brother are not really different than any other ten year old. 
Tyler is a lucky child, with parents who have fought long and hard to 
get him the mental health services that he needs, while educating 
themselves about how to take care of their son. But not surprisingly, 
sometimes Tracey is exhausted. After a long wait, she was fortunate 
enough to recently access respite care services in Rhode Island and can 
now take an occasional break, knowing that her son is being properly 
cared for. She refers to these respite hours, 110 hours per year, as 
``gold''--saving them for times she knows she needs them, and grateful 
for every minute. These hours give Tracey time to recoup without 
feeling guilty, and let her reflect on the special child she has been 
blessed with.
  Just a few hours of respite can go a long way in keeping a family 
together, keeping a child at home, and turning a situation where a 
vulnerable person was at risk of abuse into one where that same person 
feels loved, respected and valued. No family should ever be denied this 
kind of assistance.
  However, the vast majority of family caregivers does not have access 
to respite, cannot afford it, cannot find qualified, trained respite 
services or providers, or do not qualify for existing respite benefits 
because they are not Medicaid eligible or do not meet the limited 
eligibility requirements of other narrowly-targeted state or federal 
programs. As we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month, we must 
remember that for a person providing intense and exhausting care 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, an occasional short break 
can literally be a lifesaver.
  In keeping with the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision requiring 
states to ensure that individuals with disabilities and chronic 
conditions are able to live and work in the least restrictive 
environment, respite provides the support caregivers need to avoid or 
delay institutional placements.
  We can recognize and honor the nation's caregivers by passing the 
Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003, which I introduced this spring. H.R. 
1083 would authorize competitive grants to states and other eligible 
entities to make respite available and accessible to family caregivers, 
regardless of age or disability. This legislation would help states 
maximize use of existing resources and leverage new dollars by building 
on current services and systems that states already have in place. The 
bill would support planned and emergency respite, respite worker 
training and recruitment, caregiver training, and program evaluation.
  The Senate has already passed the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003. 
I urge my colleagues to join the 85 bipartisan cosponsors of the House 
bill and ask that the House take immediate action to pass it in time to 
honor the nation's caregivers in celebration of National Family 
Caregivers Month.

                          ____________________