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 S.B. No. 562 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to provide caregiver support services.

One individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committees find that families, not institutions, are the primary providers of long-term care for older adults in the State. The need for personal care due to physical, sensory, cognitive, and self-care disabilities increases with age. By 2020, more than one in four individuals will be sixty years old or older. As Hawaii's population ages, many more families will be providing higher levels of long-term care to frail and disabled older adults at home. This measure recognizes that families are an important part of the solution to serious long-term care system problems and provides a mechanism to assist family caregivers and helps keep Hawaii's elderly out of costly institutional care.

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 are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 562 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.