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 S.C.R. No. 75 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 to the extent possible, as a state objective in serving the long-term care needs of its residents.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and a private citizen.

Your Committees find that it is in the interest of the State to devise mechanisms to assist family caregivers who care for the elderly and who provide long-term care at home. It is estimated that family caregivers provide over eighty percent of home care services and over ninety percent of all long-term care services in Hawaii. Moreover, providing care has become more difficult for family caregivers because those who need long-term care are living longer.

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 S.C.R. No. 75 and recommend its adoption.