House Joint Resolution No. 162 of the 1980 Session of the General Assembly requested that the Chairmen of the House of Delegates Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and of the Senate Committee on Education and Health establish a joint subcommittee to study the improvement of the Commonwealth's public policies and system concerning the care of the impaired elderly. Accordingly, the members of the Joint Subcommittee to Study the Care of the Impaired Elderly were appointed. Delegate Glenn B. McClanan of Virginia Beach was selected to be Chairman of the Joint Subcommittee. Appointed to serve with Delegate McClanan were: Senator A. Joe Canada of Virginia Beach; Delegate James A. Davis of Ferrum; Senator Edward M. Holland of Arlington; and Delegate Mary A. Marshall of Arlington.

At the request of the Joint Subcommittee, Dr. Jean L. Harris, Secretary of Human Resources, appointed an interagency task force. The task force membership comprised representatives of each of the primary State agencies which administer long term care services in the Commonwealth. The Secretary of Human Resources and the interagency task force worked with the Joint Subcommittee throughout 1980 offering assistance and guidance to the legislative effort. The members of the interagency task force were: Peter Clendenin of the Office of the Secretary of Human Resources; Wilda Ferguson, Mary Payne, Jeff Schaffer and James Stamper of the Office on Aging; Gregory Arling of the Virginia Center on Aging; Raymond Perry and Betty Jo Wright of the Department of Health; Mary Blackwood and Saundra Rollins of the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; and Linda Sawyers of the Department of Welfare.

The Joint Subcommittee wishes to express its appreciation to Dr. Harris and to the members of the interagency task force for their contribution to the work of the Joint Subcommittee. The expertise and guidance of the executive agencies was an asset to the legislative members of the study. The task force contributed to a better understanding of the Commonwealth's current system of programs and services providing long-term care and provided invaluable suggestions for future coordination and improvement of those programs and services. In the fall of 1980, the interagency task force presented a report and recommendations to the Joint Subcommittee. The task force report is included as Appendix A of this document. In addition, the Secretary of Human Resources offered recommendations to the Joint Subcommittee. The Secretary's recommendations are included as Appendix B of this report.

In October, 1980 the Joint Subcommittee held five public hearings. Hearings were conducted in Virginia Beach, Lexington, Abingdon, Richmond and Falls Church. The testimony received during the hearings confirmed the need for better coordination of community and institutional services for elderly individuals who require assistance with the tasks of daily living. The Joint Subcommittee expresses its sincere appreciation to everyone who spoke during the hearings. Many concerned citizens recounted both professional and personal experiences in seeking assistance for elderly persons. The testimony received and the information gathered throughout the year was a valuable resource to the work of the Joint Subcommittee.