2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 191
BY SENATOR BROWN
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to establish a study committee
on family caregiving and long-term supports and services which shall report
recommendations for legislative and administrative actions regarding support for
family caregivers and other long-term care providers to the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare.
WHEREAS, the number of people in Louisiana who are age eighty-five and older
and are most likely to require caregiving assistance as they age is projected to surpass one
hundred twenty-six thousand by the year 2030; and
WHEREAS, the majority of older adults who are in need of assistance with activities
of daily living prefer to remain in their own homes and communities as they age; and
WHEREAS, providing services and supports to these older adults in their homes and
communities is generally less expensive than nursing home care; and
WHEREAS, of these older adults living in the community who receive personal
assistance, statistics indicate that nearly three-fourths of these citizens rely exclusively on
unpaid caregivers for this assistance; 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.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to establish a study
committee on family caregiving and long-term supports and services within the department
and staffed by the department.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall be composed of the
following members:
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(1) One member representing AARP Louisiana.
(2) One member representing the Southern University Department of Social Work.
(3) One member representing the Louisiana Councils on Aging.
(4) One member representing the governor's office of elderly affairs.
(5) One member representing the Advocacy Center.
(6) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
(7) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(8) Two members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Health and
Hospitals, one who works within the office for citizens with developmental disabilities and
one who works within the office of aging and adult services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appointing entities shall submit the names
of study committee members to the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals no
later than October 1, 2015, and the members of the committee shall serve without pay or per
diem.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of Health and
Hospitals shall call the first meeting of the study committee on or before November 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at the first meeting of the study committee, the
members shall elect a chairman and other officers deemed necessary from the study
committee membership.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall review options for
decreasing the waiting list for waiver services presently offered by the Department of Health
and Hospitals and investigate any efficiencies in the provision of long-term care and
supports as well as families assisting their aging relatives to remain in their homes and
communities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore the impact of
the reduction of rates for home and community-based services and the difficulties in
providing these vital services for an increasing population.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore and research
the numerous policies that may result in duplicative, excessive, and conflicting responses
from providers in the process of the administration of home and community-based services.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall include in its inquiry
decisions by the department regarding providers of in-home services and any trends
indicated by these decisions that might negatively impact these providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall explore strategies that
would result in the rate of pay to providers of these services that is more reflective of the
administrative requirements of the service providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall examine the numbers
of providers of home and community based services who have left the industry over the last
decade and determine how to ensure that, going forward, a sufficient number of providers
are available to provide these vital services to Louisiana's aging population.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study committee shall submit a written
report of its findings, including any recommendations for legislation or administrative
action, to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on or before March 1, 2016, at which
time the study committee shall be abolished.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, AARP of Louisiana, the Southern
University Department of Social Work, the Louisiana Councils on Aging, the governor's
office of elderly affairs, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Advocacy
Center.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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