Backing Legislation to Help Caregivers

AARP Illinois is asking lawmakers to pass legislation that could give caregivers greater confidence in caring for a loved one after a hospital stay.

The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act would let each patient designate a family caregiver who would be notified before the patient is moved or discharged. The caregiver would be shown how to perform followup tasks needed at home, such as managing medications or dressing wounds.

Similar legislation was introduced but did not come to a vote in 2014. AARP is pressing for passage this year.

More than 2.4 million Illinoisans help loved ones continue to live at home rather than move into nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. The value of services these caregivers provide is estimated to be more than $18.8 billion a year.

For more information or to get involved in this issue, visit aarp.org/il or facebook.com/AARPIllinois.