Editorial: Long-term care needs more help

You probably know a family member, neighbor or even a co-worker who struggles to balance her career and family life, even as she also provides assistance for an elderly relative who no longer can take care of himself. She usually goes about her devotion to the loved one and never complains -- she takes care of him because it's the right thing to do.

Yet no matter how fondly she feels about him, the physical exhaustion and the strain from the financial pressure can take their toll. But some help may be coming from the federal government. President Clinton offered a plan Monday that would provide more assistance to those families who have relatives in need of long-term care, whether they stay with the family or are cared for in nursing homes. The proposal isn't a panacea, but it certainly is welcome.

There are four parts to the president's plan:

-- A tax credit of $1,000 would be given to people who have long-term care needs. Families that care for relatives in their own homes also would be eligible for this tax credit, helping offset some of the costs they absorb, such as taking unpaid leave or working fewer hours so they meet their responsibilities. A hallmark of this tax credit is the flexibility it gives families.

-- A new national network would be established to support those who care for older people, giving $625 million in grants to state and local agencies. These agencies would establish information and referral programs. In addition, they would provide services to the millions who care for elderly parents at home.

-- A $10 million outreach program would attempt to let the 39 million Medicare beneficiaries know that most of their long-term care needs aren't covered. The program would also let them know what they should look for when seeking supplementary private insurance.

-- The federal government will offer affordable long-term care insurance for all federal employees, retirees and their family members. Clinton hopes that this will lay the foundation and encourage those in the private sector to follow the government's lead and offer similar plans for their employees.

What is promising about Clinton's plan is that it touches all the bases. Realistically, however, it can't begin to compensate families for all the time and money that is devoted to long-term care. But government must start somewhere and this is an important first step.

Demographically the strain on families won't be letting up any time soon. It's projected that in the coming 30 years at least 76 million baby boomers will retire. The graying of this nation means that the number of elderly Americans will double by the year 2030.

The record of the 105th Congress in tackling health care issues wasn't good. It turned a deaf ear to Clinton's proposal to pass the much-needed patients' "bill of rights." The leadership of the 106th Congress, which begins this week, has repeatedly said it wants government to improve the lives of working men and women. If Congress sincerely believes this, then it should not waste any time in passing this worthy legislation.

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