ENROLLED HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 1008		By:	Wright, Dank, Armes, Banz, Bennett, Biggs, Billy, Blackwell, Brown, Brumbaugh, Cannaday, Casey, Christian, Cleveland, Cockroft, Condit, Coody, Cooksey, Cox, Denney, Derby, DeWitt, Dorman, Echols, Enns, Fisher, Floyd, Fourkiller, Glenn, Grau, Hall, Hamilton, Hardin, Henke, Hickman, Hoskin, Hulbert, Inman, Jackson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyner, Kern, Kirby, Kouplen, Lockhart, Martin (Scott), Martin (Steve), Matthews, McBride, McCall, McCullough, McDaniel (Curtis), McDaniel (Jeannie), McDaniel (Randy), McNiel, McPeak, Moore, Morrissette, Mulready, Murphey, Nelson, Newell, Nollan, O'Donnell, Ortega, Osborn, Ownbey, Perryman, Peterson, Pittman, Proctor, Pruett, Quinn, Renegar, Reynolds, Ritze, Roberts (Dustin), Roberts (Sean), Rousselot, Russ, Sanders, Schwartz, Scott, Sears, Shannon, Shelton, Sherrer, Shoemake, Smalley, Stiles, Thomsen, Trebilcock, Turner, Vaughan, Virgin, Walker, Watson, Wesselhoft, Williams and Wood 

A Resolution supporting the dedicated work of family caregivers; recognizing caregiving for older adults is a vital and needed profession; encouraging the creation of a special unit within the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services to focus on family and paid caregivers; encouraging additional means to support family caregivers; encouraging the review of state policies and state programs that address the needs of older adults and caregivers; directing the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services to provide additional information and education on supporting older adults in their homes; and directing distribution. 

WHEREAS, the population of the state that is 85 years of age or older is projected to reach 131,000 in 2032; and

WHEREAS, nationally 70% of people with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder live at home and need assistance with activities of daily living; and

WHEREAS, almost three-fourths of older people living in the community who received personal assistance relied exclusively on unpaid caregivers for help; and

WHEREAS, almost all older adults who need assistance with activities of daily living want to remain in their homes and communities; and

WHEREAS, providing services and supports to older adults in their homes and communities is generally much less expensive than nursing home care; and

WHEREAS, older adults who receive cost-effective services in their homes are much less likely to need public assistance; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 596,000 adults in the state provide care to adult relatives or friends, which equates to an estimated 570 million hours a year and an estimated value of 6 billion dollars each year; and

WHEREAS, to successfully address the surging population of older adults who have significant needs for long-term services and supports, the state must develop methods to both encourage and support families to support their aging relatives and develop ways to recruit and retain a qualified, responsive in-home care workforce.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives supports the dedicated work of family caregivers statewide and will continue to seek additional ways to support these individuals through information, education, training and relief care.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives recognizes caregiving for older adults as a vital and needed profession today and in the future.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the creation of a special unit within the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services that focuses on recruiting, retaining and supporting family and paid caregivers.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives strongly encourages additional innovative and creative means to support family caregivers to continue to provide needed in-home support for older adults.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the review of state policies and supports current state programs that address the needs of older adults and their caregivers.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives directs the Aging Services Division of the Department of Human Services to continue to provide additional information and education on supporting older adults in their homes through both family caregivers and paid professional caregivers.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Marjorie Lyons, State President of AARP Oklahoma.

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 7th day of March, 2013.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________