Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 2.djvu/277

 PUBLIC LAW 101-170—NOV. 21, 1989 103 STAT. 1287 Public Law 101-170 ? 101st Congress >- Joint Resolution Designating November 19-25, 1989, as "National Family Caregivers Week". Nov. 21, 1989 [H.J. Res. 282] Whereas the number of Americans who are age 65 or older is growing; Whereas there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of persons who are age 85 or older; Whereas the incidence of frailty and disability increases among persons of advanced age; Whereas approximately 5.2 million older persons have disabilities that leave them in need of help with their daily tasks, including food preparation, dressing, and bathing; Whereas families provide older persons help with such tasks, in addition to providing 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 addi- tional expenses, including the costs of home modifications, equip- ment rental, and additional heating; Whereas 80 percent of disabled elderly persons receive care from their family members, most of whom are their wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law, 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 amount of time and stress involved in caregiving activities; Whereas family caregivers need information about available community resources; Whereas family caregivers need respite from the strains of their caregiving roles; Whereas the contributions of family caregivers help maintain strong family ties and assure 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 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That November 19-25, 1989, is designated "National Family Caregivers Week", and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation

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