Caregivers in NJ are especially invited to sign this petition, but if you are in another state, I would urge you to sign it anyway, and put a note as to which state you’re in.
Subject: Please Sign the Lifespan Respite Care Act Petition
Good Morning!
Caregivers of New Jersey and the NJ Lifespan Respite Coalition have created an online petition to help urge Congress to allocate funds into the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006. In FY09 only $2.5 million was budgeted towards the federal act, a very small fraction of the $289 million originally proposed. Now, we are asking for your help in signing this petition to let Congress know how important this program is for family caregivers around the country.
Please visit
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-fund-lifespan-respite-care-act to learn more about the Act and to sign on in support! Also your help with forwarding this email and the link to the caregivers you know, as well as your family, friends and constituents is appreciated. With enough support, Washington will hear our voices and provide adequate funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Act.
Sincerely,
Caregivers of New Jersey and the
NJ Lifespan Respite Coalition
Here is what I wrote:
Quote:
As President of the Well Spouse Association, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) org offering peer support for husbands, wives or partners of people with _any_ chronic illness and/or disability, I urge the Congress to fund the Lifespan Respite Care Act to the full measure for 2010 and subsequent FYs. Respites, or breaks, are significant mental health promotors for spousal caregivers in particular, who endure a lot of stress, physical, emotional and mental in their efforts to do their best to care for their ill partners. Spousal caregivers alone provide "free" in-home care that otherwise would be valued at an estimated $60 billion dollars -- out of a total of $350 billion worth of "free" care provided by all family caregivers.
You are welcome to use the wording for your own message.
