HR0572 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0572 LRB097 13920 KXB 58507 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The AARP Public Policy Institute reports there are an estimated 61.6 million family caregivers of older adults nationwide, including 1,660,000 in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Caregivers provide 80% of long-term care, valued at $450 billion; and

WHEREAS, The Family and Work Institute reports 42% of U.S. workers in the last 5 years have had elder care responsibilities and 49% expect to care for older family members or friends in the next 5 years; and

WHEREAS, The MetLife Mature Market Institute reports 25% of adult children, an estimated 836,021 adults ages 45-64 in Illinois, provide care for a parent; and

WHEREAS, The total estimated aggregate lost wages, pension, and Social Security benefits of caregivers of parents is nearly $3 trillion; and

WHEREAS, Caregiving sons and daughters provide comparable care in many respects, but daughters are more likely to provide basic care and sons are more likely to provide financial assistance; and

WHEREAS, The total cost impact of caregiving on the individual female caregiver in terms of lost wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions equals $324,044; and

WHEREAS, The total cost impact of caregiving on the individual male caregiver in terms of lost wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions equals $283,716; and

WHEREAS, For men and women ages 50 and over, the total individual amount of lost wages, Social Security benefits, and pensions because of caregiving responsibilities averages $303,880; and

WHEREAS, Caregivers are twice as likely to report fair or poor health; up to 70% of caregivers of older adults have clinical depression; and one quarter to one-half meet major depression criteria; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-seven percent of caregivers report a moderate to high degree of financial hardship due to caregiving; and

WHEREAS, U.S. businesses lose an estimated $33.6 billion a year in productivity from employees who are caregivers full time, at an average of $2,110 per person; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 5 million children nationwide live in grandparent-headed households; and

WHEREAS, The 2010 U.S. Census reports 318,042 Illinois children under age 18 living in homes where the householders are grandparents or other relatives; of these, 236,424 live with grandparents who are the householders; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, 109,939 children live in homes where grandparents are responsible for them; and of these children, 35,583 have no parents present in the home; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, 99,783 grandparents are householders responsible for grandchildren living with them; of these, 20% live in poverty (at or below 100% of the federal poverty level); and

WHEREAS, Grandparents and other relatives raising children face legal, financial, and emotional challenges, as well as difficulty navigating public benefits and school systems; and

WHEREAS, The year 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the National Family Caregivers Support Program, authorized and funded under the federal Older Americans Act; and

WHEREAS, Since 2001, the Illinois Aging Network, which includes the Illinois Department on Aging, 13 Area Agencies on Aging, and community-based agencies, have provided vital services for caregivers, including: information and assistance, counseling, support groups, legal assistance, training and education, and respite services for families caring for older adults and grandparents and other relatives raising children; and

WHEREAS, Since the economic downturn began in late 2007, Area Agencies on Aging have received a 67% increase in requests for caregiver support services; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Illinoisans caring for older adults who are no longer able to care for themselves, and grandparents and other relatives raising children, especially during National Family Caregivers Month, November of 2011; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize Illinois caregivers for demonstrating extraordinary love, dedication, and courage in fostering the development of children and helping older adults and persons with disabilities to maintain their dignity and autonomy, and maximize their abilities at home and in long-term care facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend the Illinois Aging Network, including the Illinois Department on Aging, the 13 Area Agencies on Aging, and community-based agencies for providing essential services to ensure that caregivers are able to continue providing care.