WASHINGTON--President Bush has signed into law a measure to help family caregivers who provide daily care to loved ones with disabilities or chronic conditions.

The "Lifespan Respite Care Act" authorizes $289 million during the next five years for states to train volunteers and provide respite services to an estimated 50 million families caring at home for adults and children with special needs. Respite care gives primary caregivers the ability to find temporary relief from caregiving, such as time to prepare meals or run errands.

Written by Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., and supported by the National Respite Coalition, which represents more than 70 advocacy groups for the chronically ill, disabled and aging, the legislation won unanimous approval from the House and Senate before the 109th Congress ended its session in December.

The law will help coordinate various respite care programs, and states can apply to the Department of Health and Human Services for grants to establish respite care programs, Ferguson said. He added that the law may save taxpayers' money because studies have shown that respite care can delay or, in some cases, avoid more expensive long-term care solutions such as those provided by nursing homes.

The law had bipartisan support in Congress with Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., supporting the House version and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the chief sponsor in the Senate.