BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
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38 (Brown)
As Amended April 27, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Aging |7-0 |Brown, Hadley, | |
| | |Gipson, Gray, Levine, | |
| | |Lopez, Mathis | |
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SUMMARY: Establishes by resolution, the California Task Force on
Family Caregiving to meet monthly and report to the Legislature
interim findings by January 1 of 2017, and final findings by
January 1 of 2018, on issues relative to the challenges faced by
family caregivers, opportunities to improve caregiver support, and
to review the current network and the services and supports
available to caregivers. Specifically, this resolution:
1)Identifies caregivers as people who provide a wide range of
assistance to those with chronic disabling needs, such as the
elderly;
2)Declares that three-quarters of older people living in a
community setting rely solely upon unpaid caregiving;
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3)Describes the lack of comprehensive resources describing
services for the state's 5.8 million caregivers who provide 3.9
million hours of care estimated to be worth about $47 billion;
4)Describes the value of family support as a key-driver in
permitting an individual to choose a home setting, including 70%
of those with Alzheimer's disease, though the physical,
emotional and financial costs can be substantial, as some 59% of
informal caregivers are employed;
5)Describes that variations of strategies undertaken by families
based upon ethnic or cultural origin may provide clues to
untapped strategies and resources which could relieve caregiver
stress;
6)Describes the critical need for state leadership to compile
inventories of resources available, identify access barriers,
and to coordinate consistent access using the most efficient and
up-to-date technologies; and,
7)Calls for a 20-member task force of experts to meet monthly,
without compensation, under open-meeting standards, consult with
stake-holders, partner with the California Commission on Aging,
and report to the Legislature and the Governor by January 1,
2017, and January 1, 2018.
BACKGROUND: After the veto of AB 1744 last year, Assembly Member
Brown, a caregiver herself, resolved to see the establishment of a
broadly recognized essential strategy to advance and secure
adequate support and recognition of caregivers within the state's
developing patch-work of services and supports for the
corresponding expanding population of older people and those who
care for them. Citing families as the major provider of long-term
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care, the author points to research that shows that caregiving
exacts a heavy emotional, physical and financial toll. Many
caregivers who work and provide care, experience conflicts between
their responsibilities. Twenty-two percent of caregivers are
assisting two individuals, while eight percent are caring for
three or more. Almost half of all caregivers are over age 50,
making them more vulnerable to a decline in their own health, and
one-third describe their own health as fair to poor.
Women make up the majority of the unpaid caregiver workforce,
often interrupting work careers to take on the burden of caring
for a relative. Caregiving women face uncertain economic futures
due to breaks from employment and the corresponding reductions to
retirement plans and the Social Security system.
Analysis Prepared by:
Robert MacLaughlin / AGING & L.T.C. / (916)
319-3990
FN: 0000294