New Law Helps Share the Care

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Delaware’s 123,000 family caregivers often have to juggle tending to loved ones while working. That task is even more burdensome when ailing or aging family members need to have medication administered to them.

After a strong advocacy campaign by AARP Delaware, that job just got easier.

Under the new Share the Care Act, families can designate the task of giving routine pills and other medications to a home health care aide or a personal-care worker.

The law requires that the medication be prepackaged by date and time for safety.

About three-fourths of First State family caregivers help with medications and medical tasks. The law will ease the burden particularly for people caring for those with cognitive disabilities, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Learn more at aarp.org/de.