Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 2.djvu/117

 PUBLIC LAW 99-477—OCT. 16, 1986

100 STAT. 1219

Public Law 99-477 99th Congress Joint Resolution To designate the week beginning November 24, 1986, as "National Family Caregivers Week".

Oct. 16, 1986 [H.J. Res. 555]

Whereas the number of Americans who are sixty-five or older is growing, with an unprecedented increase in the number of persons eighty-five or older; Whereas the incidences of frailty and disability increase among persons of advanced age; Whereas approximately 5.2 million older persons who reside in the community have disabilities that leave them in need of help with such daily tasks as food preparation, dressing, and bathing; Whereas families provide older persons help with such tasks, in addition to between 80 and 90 percent of the medical care, household maintenance, transportation, and shopping needed by older persons; Whereas families who give care to older persons face many additional expenses due to home modifications, equipment rental, and higher heating bills; Whereas 80 percent of the disabled elderly receive care from family members, most of whom are wives, daughters, and daughters-inlaw, who often must sacrifice employment opportunities to provide such care; Whereas the role of the aged spouse as a principal caregiver has generally been understated; Whereas family caregivers are often physically and emotionally exhausted from the time and stress involved in caregiving activities; Wheregis family caregivers need information about available community resources; Whereas family caregivers need respite from the strains of their caregiving roles; Whereas the contribution of family caregivers helps maintain strong family ties and assures support among generations; and Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of and support for the care that family caregivers are providing: Now, therefore, be it



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