George Herbert Walker Bush

“ As a Nation, we owe a great debt of gratitude to family caregivers. These unsung heroes and heroines deserve our respect and our support. This week, let us recognize the importance of respite and day care services to family caregivers, and let us reaffirm our commitment to the American tradition of neighbor helping neighbor. Let us also resolve to work together, throughout the public and private sectors, to ensure that this Nation's senior citizens have the opportunities and the services that they need to live with dignity and security in the comfort of their own homes. ”

“ Each day millions of Americans provide nursing care and other forms of assistance to relatives who are incapacitated by age, illness, or disability. These family caregivers not only help to support loved ones who might otherwise be forced to live in an institutional setting but also exemplify the kind of unconditional love and commitment that is the essence of family life. ”

“ Family caregivers perform their various tasks freely and without compensation—and often at considerable sacrifice to themselves. Many of these individuals assist relatives in need while juggling the traditional demands of home, family, and career. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that nearly one-third of our Nation's family caregivers are older Americans—the spouses and siblings of the frail elderly. ”