FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN /
No Respite.../
Editorial List
Come senators,
congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway,
Don't block up the hall....
The times they are a'changin' - Bob Dylan
Boy, the old Yogi Berra saying
rings true nowhere greater than in D.C. You know the one that
goes, "It ain't over 'til it's over". Or as another of my
favorite Muses, Michael Corleone, has been known to say "Just
when I thought I was out, they pull me back in". Or even,
reflecting back to what little I remember about the Sixties,
(don't ask) "When will they ever learn?" (Peter, Paul and Mary,
for all you kids out there).
I, of course am referring to
the inch by inch battle that the good folks at the National
Respite Coalition are fighting on our behalf. After years of
walking the halls of Congress, they were able to help craft
legislation that actually made its way onto the President's desk
to be signed into law late last year. Phew, you think these good
folks could actually get some respite themselves after all their
fine work. Hah! The funny thing about a law is that it still
needs to be funded. Which, is unfortunately where as they say,
"the wheels are in danger of coming off the wagon." and where we
once again need your help - quick.
I know that everyone reading
this column understands the value of respite to family
caregivers, our loved ones and our communities. Now, we need to
let our elected representatives understand that we, the
electorate (um, their bosses) want them to take action on this
vital issue. Please click on the link below, read the message
from Jill Kagan and help get the money flowing to something of
value in Washington. Now that would be music to my ears.
"We've come a long way, baby"
(all right, I'll stop). But seriously, twelve years ago next
week, when we released the first issue of Today's Caregiver
magazine, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who knew what
respite was, now it is a law. A soon to be funded law. The
times they are certainly a'changin.
Help Fund
Lifespan Respite
Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com
