Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 133 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Governor, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and the University of Hawaii to recognize the importance of the contributions of family caregivers and to support them in serving the State's long-term care needs.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Human Services and the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committees find that family caregivers provide eighty percent of home care services and over ninety percent of all long-term care services in Hawaii, allowing individuals to remain in their homes for as long as possible. However, the value and importance of their contributions are often overlooked. This concurrent resolution will help recognize and support these often-undervalued caregivers.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 133, and recommend its adoption.