HLS 15RS-1366 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 86
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON
HEALTH/HOME CARE: Creates a study committee on family caregiving and long-term
supports
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To establish a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services,
3 and to direct the committee to report recommendations for legislative and
4 administrative actions to support family caregivers to the legislative committees on
5 health and welfare.
6 WHEREAS, the number of persons in this state who are eighty-five years of age or
7older and most likely to need caregiving assistance is projected to surpass one hundred
8twenty-six thousand by 2030; and
9 WHEREAS, almost all older adults who need assistance with activities of daily
10living wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age; and
11 WHEREAS, providing services and supports to older adults in their homes and
12communities is generally much less expensive than nursing home care; and
13 WHEREAS, older adults who receive services from caregivers in their homes are
14much less likely to need public assistance; and
15 WHEREAS, almost three-fourths of older people living in the community who
16receive personal assistance rely exclusively on unpaid caregivers for help; and
17 WHEREAS, an estimated six hundred twenty-seven thousand family caregivers in
18Louisiana provide care to adult relatives or friends, with the economic value of this care
19estimated to be roughly five billion seven hundred million dollars annually; and
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks thirty-seventh in the nation for support of unpaid family
21caregivers; and
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HCR NO. 86
1 WHEREAS, to successfully accommodate the surging population of older adults who
2have significant needs for long-term services and supports, this state must implement
3policies to encourage and support families in assisting their aging relatives, and institute best
4practices for recruiting and retaining a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
6establish a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall be composed of the
8following members:
9 (1) One member representing the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
10 (2) One member representing the office of aging and adult services of the
11Department of Health and Hospitals.
12 (3) One member representing AARP Louisiana.
13 (4) One member representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
14 (5) One member representing the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of the ALS
15Association.
16 (6) One member representing the Louisiana State University School of Social Work.
17 (7) One member representing the Tulane University School of Public Health and
18Tropical Medicine.
19 (8) One member representing the Louisiana Hospital Association.
20 (9) One member representing the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
21 (10) One member representing the Louisiana Councils On Aging.
22 (11) One member representing eQHealth Solutions.
23 (12) One member representing the interests of healthcare consumers appointed by
24the attorney general.
25 (13) One member appointed by the governor.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at its initial meeting, the study committee
27members shall elect a chairperson, and shall adopt rules of procedure and any other policies
28as may be necessary to facilitate the work of the group.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the functions of the study committee shall
30include, without limitation, the following:
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HCR NO. 86
1 (1) Identifying policies, resources, and programs available for family caregivers.
2 (2) Promoting innovative and creative means to support the ability of family
3caregivers to provide needed in-home support for older adults.
4 (3) Soliciting input and perspective on policies and practices relative to family
5caregiving including designation of caregivers, training requirements, respite services,
6medical leave policies, delegation of tasks to non-medical aides, and other policies
7supporting quality in-home care.
8 (4) Compiling an inventory of resources available to family caregivers in this state.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall submit a written
10report of recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to support family
11caregivers to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on
12Health and Welfare on or before January 31, 2016.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislative authority for the study committee
14shall terminate thirty days after the convening of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature
15of Louisiana.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the secretary of
18the Department of Health and Hospitals, the state director of AARP Louisiana, the Louisiana
19grassroots manager of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the executive
20director of the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of the ALS Association, the director of the
21Louisiana State University School of Social Work, the dean of the Tulane University School
22of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the chief executive officer of the Louisiana Hospital
23Association, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the director
24of the governor's office of elderly affairs, the chief executive officer of eQHealth Solutions,
25the attorney general, and the governor.
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HCR NO. 86
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 86 Original 2015 Regular Session Simon
Establishes a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services, and
directs the committee to report recommendations for legislative and administrative actions
to support family caregivers to the legislative committees on health and welfare on or before
Jan. 31, 2016.
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