Top Legislative Priority: Helping Caregivers

AARP Iowa’s top legislative priority in 2017 will be passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act. The legislation would provide training and support for family caregivers when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

A recent AARP survey of Iowa voters 45 and older showed strong support for key provisions in the bill: A family caregiver’s name would be included in a patient’s record upon hospital admission (84 percent); the designated caregiver would be notified before their loved one is to be discharged (93 percent); and the hospital would discuss the patient’s follow-up care with the caregiver and explain how to perform medical tasks needed at home (95 percent).

Members who want to help with advocacy are invited to join AARP Iowa’s Grassroots, Elections and Advocacy Team (GREAT). For details, email Connie Eastman at ceastman@aarp.org or call her at 866-554-5378 toll-free.