ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 86
BY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To establish a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services,
and to direct the committee to report recommendations for legislative and
administrative actions to support family caregivers to the legislative committees on
health and welfare.
WHEREAS, the number of persons in this state who are eighty-five years of age or
older and most likely to need caregiving assistance is projected to surpass one hundred
twenty-six thousand by 2030; and
WHEREAS, almost all older adults who need assistance with activities of daily
living wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age; and
WHEREAS, providing services and supports to older adults in their homes and
communities is generally much less expensive than nursing home care; and
WHEREAS, older adults who receive services from caregivers in their homes are
much less likely to need public assistance; and
WHEREAS, almost three-fourths of older people living in the community who
receive personal assistance rely exclusively on unpaid caregivers for help; and
WHEREAS, an estimated six hundred twenty-seven thousand family caregivers in
Louisiana provide care to adult relatives or friends, with the economic value of this care
estimated to be roughly five billion seven hundred million dollars annually; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana ranks thirty-seventh in the nation for support of unpaid family
caregivers; and
WHEREAS, to successfully accommodate the surging population of older adults who
have significant needs for long-term services and supports, this state must implement
policies to encourage and support families in assisting their aging relatives, and institute best
practices for recruiting and retaining a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish a study committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall be composed of the
following members:
(1) One member representing the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
(2) One member representing the office of aging and adult services of the
Department of Health and Hospitals.
(3) One member representing AARP Louisiana.
(4) One member representing the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
(5) One member representing the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of the ALS
Association.
(6) One member representing the Louisiana State University School of Social Work.
(7) One member representing the Tulane University School of Public Health and
Tropical Medicine.
(8) One member representing the Louisiana Hospital Association.
(9) One member representing the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
(10) One member representing the Louisiana Councils On Aging.
(11) One member representing eQHealth Solutions.
(12) One member representing the interests of healthcare consumers appointed by
the attorney general.
(13) One member representing the governor's office of elderly affairs.
(14) One member representing the Louisiana Nursing Home Association.
(15) One member representing the Advocacy Center.
(16) One member representing the HomeCare Association of Louisiana.
(17) One member representing the Louisiana Assisted Living Association.
(18) One member representing LeadingAge Gulf States.
(19) The Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
(20) One member representing NAMI Louisiana.
(21) A caregiver appointed by the executive director of the Advocacy Center.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at its initial meeting, the study committee
members shall elect a chairperson, and shall adopt rules of procedure and any other policies
as may be necessary to facilitate the work of the group.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the functions of the study committee shall
include, without limitation, the following:
(1) Identifying policies, resources, and programs available for family caregivers.
(2) Promoting innovative and creative means to support the ability of family
caregivers to provide needed in-home support for older adults.
(3) Soliciting input and perspective on policies and practices relative to family
caregiving including designation of caregivers, training requirements, respite services,
medical leave policies, delegation of tasks to non-medical aides, and other policies
supporting quality in-home care.
(4) Compiling an inventory of resources available to family caregivers in this state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall submit a written
report of recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to support family
caregivers to the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare on or before January 31, 2016.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislative authority for the study committee
shall terminate thirty days after the convening of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature
of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the secretary of
the Department of Health and Hospitals, the state director of AARP Louisiana, the Louisiana
grassroots manager of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the executive
director of the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter of the ALS Association, the director of the
Louisiana State University School of Social Work, the dean of the Tulane University School
of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the chief executive officer of the Louisiana Hospital
Association, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the director
of the governor's office of elderly affairs, the chief executive officer of eQHealth Solutions,
the attorney general, the executive director of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, the
executive director of the Advocacy Center, the chief executive officer of the HomeCare
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Association of Louisiana, the executive director of the Louisiana Assisted Living
Association, the president of the board of directors of LeadingAge Gulf States, the executive
director of the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and the
executive director of NAMI Louisiana.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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