AARP Calling on Lawmakers for Caregiver Support

State lawmakers are considering legislation that would help family caregivers when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act would allow every hospital patient to designate a family caregiver. It would require the hospital to notify the caregiver when the patient is discharged and to show the caregiver how to perform follow-up medical tasks the patient will need at home, such as managing medications, giving injections or dressing wounds.

The Joint Committee on Public Health has scheduled a hearing on the bill Oct. 20, and AARP is encouraging members to weigh in. To urge your legislators to support the CARE Act, call the Massachusetts State House at 617-722-2000.

If you do not know who your state representative and state senator are, go to wheredoivotema.com, or call AARP at 866-448-3621 toll-free.