PRINTER'S NO. 2671
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
591
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BAKER, NEILSON, TOOHIL, DRISCOLL, CALTAGIRONE,
DiGIROLAMO, MILLARD, KINSEY, DUSH, SONNEY, LONGIETTI, TAYLOR,
HENNESSEY, SCHLOSSBERG, BOBACK, PASHINSKI, MURT, STAATS,
O'BRIEN, DEAN, WATSON, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
B. MILLER, WARD, O'NEILL, RYAN, KORTZ, EVERETT, M. QUINN,
THOMAS AND GILLEN, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 2, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of November as "Family Caregiver Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, More than 1.8 million family caregivers in this
Commonwealth provide almost $20 billion in uncompensated care
annually to their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers are relatives who, in addition to
working full time themselves, spend an average of more than 20
hours per week providing unpaid care to a parent, spouse or
other adult relative at home; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers provide assistance with daily
activities such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, medical care
adherence monitoring and transportation to appointments; and
WHEREAS, The assistance provided by family caregivers often
supplements other home and community-based services offered by
professional care providers to keep the family together at home;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers save the Commonwealth more than
$37,000 per person per year in medical assistance spending by
keeping their loved ones at home rather than in a nursing
facility; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers are at high risk for health
problems themselves, ranging from chronic pain, like headaches
and backaches, to weakened immune systems from the stress of
caring for another full time; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers are also at higher risk for
depression, emotional problems and cognitive issues, with as
many as 70% of family caregivers showing clinical symptoms of
depression; and
WHEREAS, The out-of-pocket expenses for family caregivers can
be on average $2,400 per year; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of November as "Family Caregiver Month" in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize that
family caregivers work hard each day, put the needs of their
loved ones ahead of their own and keep families together at home
where they most want to be.
20170HR0591PN2671 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22