[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9757-S9758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF SENIOR CAREGIVING AND AFFORDABILITY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP 
Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now 
proceed to H. Con. Res. 59.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) supporting the 
     goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, the importance of the senior caregiving 
community cannot be overstated. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 
the United States, 35.9 million people are 65 years of age or older, 
which is 12.4 percent of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau also 
states that with over 8,000 Americans turning 60 years old every day, 
the number of people over the age of 65 is expected to more than double 
in the next 50 years to 86.7 million. Furthermore, the U.S. Census 
Bureau estimates that the 85 and older population is projected to reach 
9.6 million in 2030 and double again to 20.9 million in 2050.
  A report by Evercare, entitled Study of Caregivers in Decline: A 
Close-up Look at the Health Risk of Caring for a Loved One, explains 
that 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. Thus, while senior caregivers are playing an 
important role now, this profession will be even more important in the 
future.
  The Dilenschneider Group, Inc., estimates that 25 percent of all 
seniors need some level of assistance to complete their daily 
activities. Senior companions provide a wide range of services, such as 
medication reminders, housekeeping, meal preparation, travel 
assistance, and general companionship. If we can keep seniors in their 
homes, we accomplish a number of goals. We preserve the independence 
and dignity of our seniors. That alone is significant. But, it also 
saves money in a health care system facing skyrocketing costs and soon-
to-be insolvent programs. The longer a senior is able to provide for 
his or her own care at home, the better.
  Adequate in-home care has become even more vital with the increase of 
dementia in our elderly population. The Alzheimer's Association 
estimates that 4.5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's today 
and that this number will increase to between 11.3 and 16 million by 
2050. The Alzheimer's Association further explains that 70 percent of 
people with Alzheimer's and other dementias live at home. These 
individuals can utilize in-home care provided by senior caregivers for 
assistance with their daily activities.
  Senior caregiver services are a much preferred alternative for 
seniors who desire to maintain their independence.

[[Page S9758]]

They also offer families peace of mind, knowing their loved one is 
being taken care of in a safe and affordable manner.
  I am very pleased with the passage of my resolution to honor senior 
caregivers and the private home care industry. According to The 
Dilenschneider Group, Inc., an estimated 44 million adults in this 
country provide care to adult relatives or friends, and an estimated 
725,000 non-family, privately paid individuals are senior caregivers. 
The Department of Labor estimates that in 2006, paid caregivers worked 
a total of 835 million hours. I salute those who provide quality care 
for so many Americans. I also salute the cooperative effort of both 
unpaid family caregivers and paid caregivers to serve the needs of 
seniors living in their own homes.
  We need to examine Federal policy alternatives to make caregiving for 
seniors more accessible and more affordable for families. This 
resolution encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
continue working to educate aging Americans about the assistance 
options available for seniors.
  I thank the senior caregivers for their service to Americans 
throughout this Nation, and I am pleased my colleagues agreed to 
support this resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 59) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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