There are an estimated 44 million adults in the United States providing care to adult relatives or friends and another 725,000 nonfamily private paid senior caregivers helping seniors stay in their homes.

Caring for another adult as their health declines is one of the noblest acts someone can do. Protecting and expanding home health care for our seniors and disabled citizens is one of my highest priorities.

It was my honor this week to join the majority of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for House Concurrent Resolution 59 which supports the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability.

H. Con. Res. 59 asked Congress to recognize that 8,000 people turn 60 years old every day in the U.S. An estimated 35.9 million people are over the age of 65, approximately 12.4 percent of the population. This population is expected to more than double in the next 50 years.

Approximately 4.5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number of those affected by the disease is expected to increase to more than 11 million by 2050.

As the country’s population continues to age, we must be prepared to meet the challenges facing our seniors.  More than 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia live at home, and are able to stay in their homes with the help of caregivers.

Seniors deserve the opportunity to stay in their homes and continue to live their lives with dignity. Home caregivers, family and paid providers, help our seniors to live independently and avoid life in a nursing home.

Home health care is a common-sense and practical solution for many seniors. Nursing home care is one of the most expensive types of care, and the longer elderly patients are able to stay in their homes with the help of caregivers, the less financial burden is placed on state and federal governments. It is a better situation for seniors as well. Most do better when they are able to stay in their home or in familiar surroundings. It is a better solution for our economy and our seniors.

The Department of Labor estimates paid caregivers worked a total of 835 million hours in 2006, and it will continue to increase. My colleagues and I made a commitment to foster a private home care industry by supporting accessibility and affordability caregiving services to seniors while providing standardized training to paid caregivers that offers opportunity for continued growth and development.

In addition to expanding and strengthening home health care services, we must also find ways to help family caregivers as they make sacrifices in their daily lives to care for their adult relatives.

Recognizing the importance of senior caregivers is a vital first step in keeping seniors in their homes and building a strong foundation to care for our elderly population.