AARP Eye Center
AARP and other advocates have formed Elevate Aging, a collaborative that addresses aging issues in Iowa. Among its priorities for the 2017 legislative session is passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act.
The CARE Act would allow hospital patients to designate a family caregiver. The hospital would make reasonable efforts to notify the caregiver before the patient is discharged and to instruct the caregiver on how to perform follow-up medical tasks the patient will need at home.
At least 33 states have passed similar legislation. More than 317,000 Iowans serve as unpaid family caregivers. To learn more, go to aarp.org/ia.