Supporting the Goals and Ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week

Floor Speech

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A LONG-TERM CARE AWARENESS WEEK -- (House of Representatives - October 15, 2007)

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 133) supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.

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Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 133, supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week. Long-term care is an often overlooked part of the continuum of care for many Americans, and many of us find ourselves ill informed and ill prepared to make choices for our own long-term care needs and those of our loved ones.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, long-term care represents a variety of services that include medical and nonmedical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care is to assist people with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age. The need for support and health services for persons who have diminished capacity for self-care is projected to strain both public and private resources.

Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 133 calls for public education about the need for long-term care so that people of all ages throughout our Nation are better prepared to meet their own long-term care needs. Planning for long-term care requires us to think about possible future health care needs. Making the right decision about long-term care requires us to look at all of the options before us and to make informed decisions.

I want to recognize and thank my colleague from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) for introducing this resolution and carrying it to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of it.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I too want to add my words of congratulations to the bill's authors, the gentlewoman from South Dakota and the gentleman from Louisiana.

I know from my own personal experience you are never fully prepared for having to make some of these choices on behalf of loved ones, and it can happen at any time. We are going to be very well-served by the passage of this bill to increase awareness among people of all age groups about the decisions and options they have. We have to understand that long-term care is part of the continuum of health care in this country. More education is needed. I recommend its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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