WHEREAS, our goal is to empower Idahoans to be the architects of their own destiny and one of the greatest threats to self-reliance and independence the need for long-term care; and

        WHEREAS, the State of Idaho seeks to ensure that those who will require long-term care are able to preserve their independence, ensure their right to receive quality care and prevent placing considerable burdens on families, communities, businesses or government programs ; and

        WHEREAS, long-term care spending nationwide from all public and private sources was about $137 billion for persons of all ages in 2000, and costs could nearly quadruple to $379 billion by 2050; and

        WHEREAS, nearly one in four Idaho households provides long-term care assistance to someone 50 or older; and

        WHEREAS, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, some 8 million Americans including over 14,000 from the State of Idaho already have purchased long-term care insurance protection for themselves and family members and over $1 billion in yearly insurance benefits are paid to Americans;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim November 4-10, 2007 as

LONG-TERM CARE AWARENESS WEEK
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho in Boise on this 5th day of September in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE