Title
Recognizing the Month of November As National Family Caregivers Month and Celebrating the Outstanding Supports Provided to Family Caregivers by AARP.
Body
WHEREAS, President Bill Clinton initiated the first National Family Caregivers Month in 1997. The purpose of the Month is to celebrate the efforts of family caregivers, raise awareness of family caregiver issues and increase support for family caregivers; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers provide stability and a wide range of support to family members who need care, including children, the elderly, and people with intellectual, physical or emotional challenges. Family caregivers enable their family members to live their fullest lives with dignity and independence, supporting personal hygiene, managing medications, organizing medical and legal documents, and serving as a liaison in times of medical emergency; and
WHEREAS, Caregivers make up a significant part of the American population. According to caregiver.org, 43 million Americans provide some type of caregiving. The number of caregivers rises every year, due in large part to to the increase in the elderly population. The profile of the average family caregiver is a mother with school-aged children. 42 percent of caregivers care for their own parents; and
WHEREAS, Family caregivers make an enormous time commitment to ensure the health and stability of their family members. The average family caregiver spends 24 hours per week caring for a family member and 25 percent of family caregivers provide more than 40 hours of service per week to their family member. Although caregiving can be a full-time commitment, up to 60 percent of caregivers support their families while holding a part-time or full-time job; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s changing demographics demonstrate the importance of family caregiving to the City. According to the United States Census, 13 percent of City residents are age 65 or older, 12 percent of residents under age 65 are disabled, and 11 percent of residents under age 65 do not have medical insurance. Family caregiving for these residents can play an enormous role in maintaining health and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The economic value of the services caregivers provide has increased over the last decade. In 2013, caregivers provided services worth an estimated $470 billion, an amount that exceeded the total Medicaid spending for that year. While some caregiving is paid work, oftentimes family caregiving is unpaid; and
WHEREAS, AARP is an incredible source of information and support for family caregivers. Through its website, AARP has compiled a compendium of resources to the family caregiving community, including a comprehensive set of caregiving guidelines that have been translated into multiple languages, online events and webinars to share best practices, holding numerous caregiver support workshops across the City, family caregiving apps, and materials for the LGBT Community; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize the month of November as National Family Caregivers Month and celebrate the outstanding supports provided to family caregivers by AARP.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to AARP as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.