Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to develop methods of supporting caregivers that provide free and continuing at-home care for family members who need long-term care.

The Department of Human Services, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and Kokua Council submitted testimony in support of this measure.

As the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs noted in its testimony, it is in the interest of the State to support family caregivers in order to assure the best quality care of frail elders in their own homes. Not only does this help postpone and reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care, it also enables elderly family members to remain in the home with loved ones where most, if not all, prefer to stay. The Department of Human Services expressed its support and noted that it has already coordinated with the Caregivers Resource Initiative of the Executive Office of Aging of the Department of Health which has agreed to provide research and staffing capabilities to explore methods of providing assistance to family caregivers.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 96, and recommend its adoption.