Help for Caregivers is a Win-Win

Help for caregivers is on its way January 1, 2016!

The CARE Act – Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable – is heading to Governor Hassan’s desk this week for her signature. The lead sponsors were Senators Nancy Stiles (R), Dan Feltes (D), Martha Fuller Clark (D) and Representative Susan Emerson (R). The bill garnered unanimous bipartisan support. This was made possible due to negotiation and cooperation among sponsors, supporters and stakeholders such as the New Hampshire Hospital Association and New Hampshire Heart Association.

The law enables a patient to identify a caregiver when he or she is admitted to a hospital. The hospital must notify the caregiver when the patient is released, whether he or she is released to home or to another facility (such as rehab). Most important, the hospital is required to explain to the caregiver all the medical procedures – such as administration of medications or wound care – the caregiver will be responsible for once the patient goes home.

This commonsense law will improve care, support the vital work that caregivers provide and help reduce hospital readmissions. AARP thanks Governor Hassan and New Hampshire legislators. This law goes into effect January 1, 2016.