crosspost/OT-US Senate passes Lifespan Respite Care Act

[Guest guest]

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Friday passed a bill making it easier for the

estimated 50 million families caring at home for adults and children with

special needs to find respite care.

The House passed the bill, sponsored by New Jersey Rep. Mike Ferguson, on

Wednesday. The bill now heads to President Bush. White House aides have said the

president will sign it into law, Ferguson's office said.

" I'm on top of the world, " Ferguson said shortly after the Senate passed the

bill by a voice vote.

(...)

The Lifespan Respite Care Act provides $289 million over five years for states

to train volunteers and provide other services to families.

(...)

Respite care can come in many forms, from tutoring autistic children to helping

feed and dress an elderly patient to transporting someone to a doctor's

appointment.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the bill's main Senate sponsor, said the measure

will provide what has been missing in helping family caregivers get respite

care: coordinating services and helping families find them.

(...)

Full article:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--respitecare1208dec08,\

0,3207976.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

or

http://tinyurl.com/ykskb8