To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): In Home Supportive Services - Public Authority, Human Services Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Eric Glentzer (707) 565-5952, Paul Dunaway (707) 565-3673
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Adopt a Gold Resolution Proclaiming November 2023 Family Caregivers Month in Sonoma County. (Countywide)
Body
Executive Summary:
The Gold Resolution for Family Caregivers Month recognizes the issues surrounding family caregiving and honors and supports the immense contributions of family caregivers, particularly those supporting older adults and adults with disabilities.
Discussion:
Every November, National Family Caregivers Month is observed to recognize the value and numerous contributions that family caregivers bring to the lives of the people they support, and to acknowledge the challenges surrounding family caregiving. First observed in 1994, National Family Caregivers Month is recognized by the Administration on Community Living, the National Council on Aging, Caregiver Action Network, The National Alliance for Caregiving, and Share the Care. This year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock.”
Caregiving Around the Clock reflects that caring for older adults can be a 24/7 job, often requiring around the clock dedication, organization, responsibility, and hands-on care. Caregiving is a tough job and carries responsibility for assisting people with personal care including bathing and dressing, house cleaning and shopping, and providing comfort and companionship to reduce isolation and support older adults and adults with disabilities to live safe and fulfilling lives.
Families are often the primary source of caregiving support for older adults and people with disabilities. Today in America, more than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care to their loved ones, which is an economic value totaling more than $470 billion.
While caregivers should be celebrated every day, National Family Caregivers Month provides the opportunity for Sonoma County to publicly acknowledge the amazing and crucial work that family caregivers provide. Every day in Sonoma County, caregivers provide support and assistance to enable older adults and people with disabilities to remain independent in the community. Nearly one in four households in our community have someone caring for a person age 50 or older. These caregivers include spouses, adult children, and other relatives and friends.
The statewide In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program administered locally by the Human Services Department (HSD), Adult and Aging Division supports older adults and people of all ages with disabilities who are very low income and at risk of out-of-home placement to receive caregiver support in their home. Sonoma County has over 7,400 residents who receive IHSS services, and over 4,000 of those individuals receive the care they need from family members to stay living safely in the community.
Too many individuals struggle to access the affordable, high-quality care they need. Long-term care costs have gone up 40% in the past decade, which results in many Americans - particularly women - staying out of the workforce to care for family members. In addition, the nearly 5-million paid direct care workers are predominantly women, people of color, and immigrants. Caregivers both paid and unpaid, who are disproportionately women of color, often struggle to make ends meet. In addition, at least 53-million Americans serve as family caregivers which translates to one in five Americans providing unpaid family care. This includes over 5-million who are caring for service members or veterans, and many who face challenges due to lack of support, lack of training and few opportunities for respite.
In 2022, the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was created to support family caregivers of all ages, from youth to grandparents, regardless of where they live or what caregiving looks like for them and their loved ones. The strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils created by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, with extensive input from the public including family caregivers and the people they support.
On April 18, 2023 President Biden signed an executive order that included more than 50 directives to federal agencies to increase access to affordable, high-quality care and provide support for care workers and family caregivers. This commitment works to strengthen the care infrastructure that helps people with disabilities and older adults live well and fully participate in their communities.
The Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Area Plan Needs Assessment was conducted in Spring 2023 and found that caregiving is a priority concern in our community. 56% of survey respondents expressed concern about having enough money to stay in their homes and 44% were concerned about their ability to pay a reliable person to help them.
Our local AAA provides Older Americans Act funding to the North Coast Opportunities Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (RCRC) and the Alzheimer’s Association to provide services that assist family caregivers. Residents can also be connected to services by contacting the Aging and Disability Resource Hub Information and Assistance line at (707) 565-INFO (4636) which is staffed by Adult and Aging social workers. The Older Americans Act Amendment of 2020 established the National Family Caregiver Support Program. The program calls for all states, working in partnership with AAAs and local community-based agencies to have services for caregivers. Sonoma County services provided by the HSD Adult and Aging Division, In-Home Supportive Services program, RCRC and the Alzheimer’s Association include:
• Information to caregivers about available resources
• Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to services
• Support groups and caregiver training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solving problems related to caregiving roles
• Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
Prior Board Actions:
11/10/2009: Resolution proclaiming November 2009 as National Family Caregivers Month
11/04/2008: Resolution #08-0924 proclaimed November 2008 as National Family Caregivers Month
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Gold Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None