Reps. Woronchak, Accavitti, Adamini, Bieda, Brown, Caswell, Condino, Dennis, Ehardt, Farrah, Garfield, Gieleghem, Gillard, Gleason, Hardman, Hopgood, Huizenga, Jamnick, Koetje, Kolb, Kooiman, LaSata, Law, Lipsey, Meisner, Meyer, Middaugh, Minore, Murphy, Pappageorge, Phillips, Plakas, Richardville, Sak, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Shulman, Spade, Stakoe, Stallworth, Tabor, Taub, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Voorhees, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 304.

            A resolution declaring September 12-17, 2004, as Assisted Living Week in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, We take pride in joining citizens throughout the country in recognizing National Assisted Living Week and in proclaiming September 12-17, 2004, as Michigan Assisted Living Week; and

Whereas, The week is a tribute to residents of assisted living facilities and to the staff and owners who provide quality care for the disabled and elderly; and

Whereas, Assisted living facilities provide an important option for people who do not need skilled nursing home care but are not able to live on their own.  They are vital to people who need assistance with activities of daily living but wish to remain independent for as long as possible.  Residents are not able to live by themselves, but also do not require constant care.  They provide a bridge for the gap between living independently and nursing homes.

Whereas, Unlike a traditional nursing home setting, assisted living environments vary drastically according to the needs of the residents.  They can range from a senior high rise apartment complex where residents live independently with the knowledge that support services are available to them, to a large home in a residential neighborhood with few residents.  Some facilities provide very specialized levels of care, including programs for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. 

Whereas, More than a million Americans are living in an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 assisted living communities nationwide.  In Michigan, approximately 10,000 residents live in licensed adult foster care homes, approximately 11,000 live in homes for the aged, and tens of thousands of older adults live in unlicensed community living or retirement residence settings.  Many of these individuals continue to lead active, meaningful lives in their facilities and communities; and

Whereas, Michigan residents are well served by the choices assisted living environments offer people seeking long-term health services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That members of this legislative body declare September 12-17, 2004, as Assisted Living Week in the state of Michigan.  We join together in honoring assisted living facilities, their residents, and staff.  We urge all Michigan residents to join us in recognizing the significant contributions of long term care facilities and caregivers in this state and beyond.

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Assisted Living Association, Michigan Center for Assisted Living, Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aged, and the Jewish Home and Aging Services as evidence of our support.