[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 49 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4018-S4019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ASSISTED LIVING

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Louisiana 
Assisted Living Association, LALA, which will be celebrating ``Assisted 
Living Day'' open April 14, 2004 in the State capitol. Both in my home 
State and in States across the Nation, disabled individuals and older 
Americans are voicing their demand for a wide range of long-term 
services. Assisted living represents a significant piece of that 
continuum of care.
  Decades ago, those in need of long-term care had limited options--
family caregivers, skilled nursing homes or institutional care. In many 
cases, family caregivers cannot provide the proper level of care for 
their loved one for a variety of reasons. In other instances, the 
person does not require the high level, around-the-clock care of a 
skilled nursing facility or institution. Now, many disabled persons and 
older Americans with functional limitations and/or cognitive 
impairments are finding the assistance they need and desire in assisted 
living, and in other home and community-based settings.
  Unfortunately, our Federal financing structure has a strong 
institutional bias and does not reflect Americans' growing desire to be 
cared for in settings other than nursing homes or institutions. Public 
preference is not the only momentum driving this need for change--we 
see this direction in our courts as well. At the Federal level, the 
landmark Olmstead decision underscored this push toward allowing our 
countrys' elderly and disabled to live in the least restrictive 
settings for as long as possible. And, in my home State of Louisiana, 
this momentum was echoed in the Barthelemy case, in which the court 
strengthened the rights of people to get assistance in

[[Page S4019]]

home and community-based settings. We now know that we are not talking 
about merely a preference for non-institutional care--but a legal right 
to it.
  In my capacity as ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on 
Aging, I have held numerous hearings on long-term care and the 
importance of supporting the continuum of care options. Assisted living 
is one of the most significant of these options and offers a real 
choice to those Americans wanting assistance outside of an 
institutional setting--a preference that will only grow as more of our 
baby boomers look for help with long-term care. Today, I salute the 
Louisiana Assisted Living Association for taking time to educate and 
improve awareness about a service that I believe can and will improve 
the lives of many of our Nation's disabled and elderly.

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