AJR113

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO

District 28 (Essex)

Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT

District 6 (Burlington and Camden)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen McKeon, Giblin, Assemblywoman Jones, Assemblyman Singleton, Assemblywoman Downey, Assemblymen Johnson, Holley, Lagana, Wimberly, Barclay, Assemblywoman Oliver, Assemblymen Taliaferro, Land, Andrzejczak, Eustace, Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblyman Chiaravalloti, Assemblywoman Mosquera, Assemblyman Coughlin, Assemblywoman Pinkin and Assemblyman Houghtaling

SYNOPSIS

Designates May of each year as “Caregivers Awareness Month.”

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as “Caregivers Awareness Month” in New Jersey.

Whereas, Caregivers fulfill an integral function in modern society by providing support to the most vulnerable members of society, who may include spouses, parents, other family members, young children, the elderly and the disabled; and

Whereas, Caregivers are drawn from a wide variety of individuals, not all of whom are financially compensated for their services, and may include family members of the care recipient, friends of the care recipient, neighbors of the care recipient, and individuals who are paid to provide services to the care recipient; and

Whereas, The status of caregiver is derived not from whether an individual is financially compensated but rather from the care that they provide; and

Whereas, Depending on the care needed by the elderly or disabled care recipient, caregivers perform a myriad of tasks in the performance of their duties, including buying groceries, cooking, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, scheduling doctor appointments, driving the care recipient to their doctor appointments, helping the care recipient to get dressed, and ensuring that the care recipient take the proper dosage of medicine at the scheduled time; and

Whereas, In their role as caregivers to young children, caregivers may instruct and supervise children in play; watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems and communicate any issues with the parents, and teach skills such as drawing, counting and reading to the young children under their care; and

Whereas, The need for caregivers remains high as the United States government projects that at least 70 percent of people over 65 will need long-term care services and that the market for childcare workers will increase by 14 percent between 2012 and 2022; and

Whereas, Approximately 10.9 million family members and friends provide unpaid caregiving services, estimated to be valued at $375 billion; and

Whereas, Caregiving is a physically and emotionally demanding occupation which may lead to long-term effects detrimental to the caregiver’s health; and

Whereas, The diverse array of individuals who comprise the ranks of caregivers should be recognized, celebrated and appreciated by society; and

Whereas, The invaluable services provided to care recipients by the caregivers should be recognized, celebrated and appreciated by society; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to designate the month of May of each year as “Caregivers Awareness Month” in order to raise awareness of the commitment to the health and well-being of the care recipients that caregivers exhibit every day; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The month of May of each year is designated as “Caregivers Awareness Month” in the State of New Jersey to raise awareness of the caregivers’ commitment to the health and well-being of their care recipients.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe “Caregivers Awareness Month” with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This resolution designated the month of May of each year as “Caregivers Awareness Month.”

Caregivers encompass a wide variety of individuals and include paid caregivers as well as the neighbors, friends and family of the care recipient. Caregivers provide a diversity of services to the care recipient which vary based on the needs of the care recipients. Such services include, but are not limited to, help with cooking and cleaning for the elderly and disabled and supervision of children at play and the instruction of children in concepts appropriate for their age group. While rewarding, caregiving is a physically and emotionally demanding task which may lead to long-term effects on the health of the caregivers.

Therefore, it is fitting and proper for this State to designate a month in which awareness of the work done by caregivers, as well as the risks that such work poses, is raised.