Urgent Legislative Alert
Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248)

The Lifespan Respite Care Act authorizes competitive grants to states through Aging and Disability Resource Centers which must work in collaboration with state respite coalitions or state respite organizations to make quality respite available and accessible to family caregivers, regardless of age or disability. The bill requires grantees to identify, coordinate and build on federal, state and local respite resources and would help support, expand and streamline planned and emergency respite, provider recruitment and training, and caregiver training.

Status: Major action was taken when the Lifespan Respite Care Act was favorably reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Sept. 20, 2006. Floor action is next! While time constraints did not allow the bill to be considered by the full House before the October recess, House Leadership has pledged to help bring the bill to the floor during the November lame duck session, but our push is needed!!

Take Action Today!

Action: Contact your Representatives immediately. Face-to-face visits are very effective, especially while they are at home campaigning for re-election! So is a phone call. It’s so easy! Call 202-225-3121 or 224-3121 for the Capitol Switchboard and ask for your Member’s or Senator's office or contact the District Office. You can also fax or e-mail. For your legislator’s contact information, visit www.congress.org

Contact House Leadership and ask your Representative to do the same: Phone in or fax the following message to House leadership and ask your own Representative to urge the Leadership to take swift action.

Office of the Majority Leader John Boehner
H-107 The Capitol | Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4000 | Fax: (202) 225-5117

The Office of the House Majority Whip Roy Blunt
H-329 The Capitol | Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-0197 | Fax: (202) 226-1115

Message:
November is National Family Caregivers Month. What a perfect opportunity to show your support for the nation’s 50 million family caregivers by passing the Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248). We urge the House and Senate leadership to bring the bill to the floor during the lame duck session in November.

The bill authorizes competitive grants to states to make quality respite available and accessible to family caregivers, regardless of age, disability, or family situation. Respite, the most frequently requested family support service among the more than 50 million family caregivers nationwide, provides family caregivers with relief necessary to maintain their own health, bolster family stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay much more costly nursing home or foster care placements.

At a time when we are especially constrained by serious budget considerations, we should note the savings inherent in supporting cost-effective services such as respite. By delaying placement in a nursing facility for even one individual with Alzheimer's or other serious chronic conditions for just a few months, thousands of dollars of Medicaid savings alone could potentially be realized. Respite, however, is in short supply or inaccessible for all age groups. In our own state of ____________, respite is desperately needed for all family caregivers. [Fill in any need or outcome data you may have or personalize it to your own family's needs.]

The bill has been successfully reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and enjoys tremendous bipartisan support. Do something meaningful for families! Bring the Lifespan Respite Care Act to the floor during National Family Caregiver Month in November.

For more information on the legislation, please contact Jill Kagan, ARCH National Respite Coalition at jbkagan@verizon.net or call (703) 256-9578.