Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1332
Sponsors: AUSTIN, BABBIDGE, BAILEY, BATES, BEEBE-CENTER, BERRY, BLUME, BROOKS, BRYANT, CARDONE, COOPER, DENNO, DEVIN, DOORE, DUNPHY, FARNSWORTH, FAY, FECTEAU, FREY, GATTINE, GIDEON, GOLDEN, GRANT, HANDY, HICKMAN, HOGAN, HUBBELL, HYMANSON, KORNFIELD, KUMIEGA, LAWRENCE, LONGSTAFF, MADIGAN, MARTIN, MASTRACCIO, MELARAGNO, MONAGHAN, MOONEN, NADEAU, O'NEIL, PERRY, POULIOT, RECKITT, RILEY, RYKERSON, SANBORN, SCHNECK, SPEAR, STANLEY, TALBOT ROSS, TEPLER, TERRY, TIPPING, TUCKER, WARREN, ZEIGLER, CHENETTE, GRATWICK

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
The following document is provided by the 
LAW AND LEGISLATIVE DIGITAL LIBRARY 
at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library 
http://legislature.maine.gov/lawlib 
Reproduced from electronic originals 
(may include minor formatting differences from printed original) 
HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Tuesday, April 3, 2018
(4-3)  On motion of Representative HERBIG of Belfast, the following Joint Resolution:  
(H.P. 1332) (Cosponsored by Representatives: AUSTIN of Skowhegan, BABBIDGE of 
Kennebunk, BAILEY of Saco, BATES of Westbrook, BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, BERRY 
of Bowdoinham, BLUME of York, BROOKS of Lewiston, BRYANT of Windham, CARDONE 
of Bangor, COOPER of Yarmouth, DeCHANT of Bath, DENNO of Cumberland, DEVIN of 
Newcastle, DOORE of Augusta, DUNPHY of Old Town, FARNSWORTH of Portland, FAY of 
Raymond, FECTEAU of Biddeford, FREY of Bangor, GATTINE of Westbrook, Speaker 
GIDEON of Freeport, GOLDEN of Lewiston, GRANT of Gardiner, HANDY of Lewiston, 
HICKMAN of Winthrop, HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, 
HYMANSON of York, KORNFIELD of Bangor, KUMIEGA of Deer Isle, LAWRENCE of 
Eliot, LONGSTAFF of Waterville, MADIGAN of Waterville, MARTIN of Sinclair, 
MASTRACCIO of Sanford, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, MELARAGNO of Auburn, 
MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, MOONEN of Portland, NADEAU of Winslow, O'NEIL of 
Saco, PERRY of Calais, POULIOT of Augusta, RECKITT of South Portland, RILEY of Jay, 
RYKERSON of Kittery, SANBORN of Portland, SCHNECK of Bangor, SPEAR of South 
Thomaston, STANLEY of Medway, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, TEPLER of Topsham, 
TERRY of Gorham, TIPPING of Orono, TUCKER of Brunswick, WARREN of Hallowell, 
ZEIGLER of Montville, Senators: CHENETTE of York, GRATWICK of Penobscot) 
JOINT RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN MAINE 
WHEREAS, the population of Maine is aging and Maine currently has the highest 
median age in the country; and 
WHEREAS, the majority of Maine citizens wish to remain in their homes and 
communities as they age; and 
WHEREAS, providing care in homes and communities is less costly than providing care 
in institutional settings; and 
WHEREAS, a family caregiver can be a spouse, partner, adult child, other relative, friend 
or neighbor who has a significant relationship with, and who provides a broad range of assistance 
to, an adult dealing with the challenges of age, illness, injury or chronic or disabling conditions; 
and 
WHEREAS, currently, there are 178,000 family caregivers in Maine; and 
WHEREAS, family caregivers in Maine provide an estimated 165,000,000 hours of 
unpaid care annually, which can be valued at nearly $2,220,000,000; and 
WHEREAS, family caregivers spend, on average, between $6,954 and $11,923 out of 
pocket annually in caring for their loved ones; and 
HOUSE ADVANCE JOURNAL AND CALENDAR - Tuesday, April 3, 2018
WHEREAS, 69,000 family caregivers in Maine are caring for a loved one with 
Alzheimer's disease; and 
WHEREAS, the Maine Legislature has passed various provisions into law in support of 
family caregivers, including the State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in 
Maine; an Act To Allow a Patient To Designate a Caregiver in the Patient's Medical Record, 
informally known as the CARE Act; and the Maine State Housing Authority's home accessibility 
modification tax credit; and 
WHEREAS, the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives are 
currently considering proposed federal legislation, The Credit for Caring Act of 2017; and 
WHEREAS, in January 2018, President Trump signed into law the RAISE Family 
Caregivers Act, which was supported by Maine's entire congressional delegation; and 
WHEREAS, family caregivers often work full-time or part-time while providing care for 
a loved one, without access to paid family leave, while others are forced to leave the workforce, 
for a period of time or permanently, to provide care; and 
WHEREAS, the ratio of potential family caregivers to the growing number of those who 
need care has already begun a steep decline; and  
WHEREAS, direct care workers, certified nursing assistants, personal care attendants, 
home health aides and certified geriatricians cannot meet the current or projected need in Maine; 
and  
WHEREAS, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reports that 
the need to recognize and support family caregivers is the most significantly overlooked 
challenge facing the United States; and 
WHEREAS, Maine must find ways to support family caregivers in their efforts to 
provide care to loved ones, allowing Maine citizens to safely and comfortably age in their own 
homes, helping to preserve communities and avoiding the expense of institutional care; now, 
therefore, be it 
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Legislature 
now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, support the 
review of state policies and programs for their effectiveness in addressing the needs of family 
caregivers and their loved ones and recognize November as Maine Family Caregivers Month and 
encourage Maine citizens to participate in activities related to National Family Caregivers 
Month; and be it further 
RESOLVED: That a suitable copy of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary 
of State, be sent to the Department of Health and Human Services. 
_________________________________