Recording of Iowa CARE Act Teletown Hall Now Available Online

This past Wednesday, AARP Iowa hosted a teletown hall event featuring the 2019 Iowa CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable) Act. The bill features four important provisions.  The name of the family caregiver is recorded when their loved one is admitted into a hospital, if a patient chooses to designate one.  Second, the designated family caregiver is notified when their loved one is to be discharged back home.  Third, the hospital discusses the caregivers’ abilities and limitations.  Finally, the hospital discusses the patient’s care needs at home and provides an explanation and live instruction on the medical tasks to be performed – such as medication management, injections, wound care, and transfers.

To view the  teletown hall in its entirety, please click here. 

Across the state, Iowa's 317,000 family caregivers spend 295 million hours each year caring for loved ones—a contribution totaling about $3.8 billion in unpaid care. They carry out tasks like managing finances, providing transportation, helping with bathing and dressing, cooking meals and more.