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The deadline for Senators to sign onto the Clinton/Warner letter to the Budget Committee in support of Lifespan Respite Funding has been extended to Feb. 13 so it's not too late to seek more signatures. So far, in addition to Senators Clinton (D-NY) and Warner (R-VA), the following Senators have signed onto the letter:

Lincoln (D-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Collins (R-ME)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Schumer (D-NY)
Menendez (D-NJ)

Call your Senator regarding funding for Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248, S. 1283)!

Feb. 13 is the deadline for Senators to sign on
to the Clinton/Warner Budget Request Letter.

Dear SPOCS, State Respite Coalitions and Friends of Respite:

Here is your first task to get the money for the Lifespan Respite Care Act in FY08!

Senators Clinton and Warner want to send a letter to the Senate Budget Committee signed by as many Senators as possible urging them to set aside funds in the Senate Budget Resolution for the Lifespan Respite Program. They have already sent around a "Dear Colleague" letter asking other Senators to sign onto their budget letter, but they have specifically asked us to follow up and help them get these signatures from your Senators as soon as possible.

They need the signatures by February 13, 2007, so MAKE THIS CALL TODAY!!

ACTION: Contact your Senators today by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking for their offices. If you don't know who your Senators are, go to www.congress.org and type in your zip code. Call only your two Senate offices and ask for the Health Legislative Assistant (LA).

MESSAGE:

"Senators Clinton and Warner have sent around a "Dear Colleague" asking Senator ______________ to sign onto a letter to the Senate Budget Committee. They are asking the Budget Committee to reserve funds in the FY 08 Budget to fund the Lifespan Respite Care Act over the next five years (Total $289 million). The Act was signed into law by the President last December.

I am calling to urge Senator ________________ to sign this letter before February 7 by contacting either Senator Clinton's or Senator Warner's office.

We have _______family caregivers in our state who are providing $_____________ in uncompensated care. (See attached table to fill in the blanks) If they don't get respite soon, they might be forced to place their loved ones in much more costly nursing homes or foster care. Please act today."

BACKGROUND:

Family caregivers are providing 80% of long-term care in the US, a level of care valued at $306 billion a year, more than what is spent on nursing home and paid home care combined . Even though most families take great joy in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite. Respite provides the much needed temporary break from the often exhausting challenges imposed by constant caregiving.

The new law would authorize $289 million over five years for state grants to develop Lifespan Respite Programs to help families access quality, affordable respite care. Specifically, the law authorizes funds for:

• development of state and local lifespan respite programs;
• planned or emergency respite care services;
• training and recruitment of respite care workers and volunteers;
• caregiver training.

When the bill passed the House, Rep. Ferguson, whose own father was a caregiver for his ill mother for 6 years said , “Today's action by the House of Representatives represents not only an important victory for family caregivers nationwide, but it also sends America's caregivers a clear message: Your selfless sacrifice is appreciated, and help is on the way.”

If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact me today! And please circulate this message widely!! Thanks and have a great day.

Jill Kagan, MPH
Chair, National Respite Coalition
4016 Oxford Street
Annandale, VA 22003
703-256-9578
jbkagan@verizon.net