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AARP Gives Remarks at Caregiving Bill Signings

CARE Act bill signing McNutt giving remarks
AARP Remarks at Caregiving Bill Signings: SB187 and SB209

Given by Doug McNutt, Associate State Director for Advocacy

August 19, 2015

Thank you, Senator Stiles. These two bills that are being signed today – SB 187 the CARE Act and SB 209 the Uniform Adult Guardianship Protective Proceedings and Jurisdiction Act – are both designed to help family caregivers taking care of loved ones. Caregiving is a major focus for AARP both in New Hampshire and on a national level. We believe these two bills will make a difference in the lives of caregivers. 

I want to start by thanking Senator Stiles for the job she did as prime sponsor of both of these bills. 

With regard to the CARE Act, Senator Stiles was actively engaged and helped us through every stage of the legislation, including a major amendment that was made to the bill which was critical to its passage. I would also like to thank Representative Emerson for her important work in the House Health and Human Services Committee and Senator Feltes for his work on helping AARP and the New Hampshire Hospital Association towards reaching the compromise that resulted in SB 187 in its current form. We also thank Governor Hassan for her support of this bill and past issues supporting family caregiving. 

Of course, the support by the New Hampshire Hospital Association was essential in getting us where we are today. They were committed to helping caregivers get the help they need in taking care of their loved ones. I want to specifically thank Leslie Melby from the Hospital Association for her commitment in helping create a CARE act that supports caregivers and also allows hospitals to function efficiently. 

The CARE Act includes three requirements. The first is that upon admission, a hospital will provide patients with the opportunity to designate a caregiver and have that caregiver’s contact information entered into the patient’s medical record. 

The second is that hospitals will notify and alert the family caregiver if his/her loved one is being discharged home or transferred to another facility. This provides the caregiver with timely information, so the caregiver can better coordinate and manage the transition from one care setting to another. 

The third is that hospitals will offer an opportunity, prior to the patient’s discharge, to provide the family caregiver with instructions on how to perform after-care medical and nursing tasks that the patient will need once they return home. Rather than leaving it up to the family caregiver to learn how to perform these after-care tasks on their own, we believe creating this framework will lead to providing patients with better care. 

In a survey conducted by AARP of residents 50 plus in New Hampshire (not just members), we found there was broad support for these three measures. In fact, 92% favor the creation of the training for caregivers and 93% say it is important to be able to provide care at home to their loved ones. 

AARP recognizes the critical role family caregivers play in keeping their loved ones out of costly institutions. We believe SB 187 puts into place some small, but meaningful supports for family caregivers during their loved one’s transition from hospital to home, a difficult and stressful time for both patients and caregivers. 

The other bill that is being signed today is Senate Bill 209, the Uniform Adult Guardianship Protective Proceedings and Jurisdiction Act, which also supports caregivers. AARP worked closely with the Alzheimer’s Association on this bill and I am pleased to introduce Heather Carroll from the Alzheimer’s Association to speak on Senate Bill 209.

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