Support Training for Family Caregivers

AARP Massachusetts is backing legislation that would help family caregivers provide follow-up care when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act would let every hospital patient designate a family caregiver and ensure the caregiver is notified before the patient is moved or discharged. In addition, the caregiver would receive training in how to perform care the patient will need at home, such as managing medications or dressing wounds.

About 1.3 million Bay Staters provide care for a family member or friend, offering services valued at $10.9 billion annually.

“Supporting family caregivers, who provide unpaid care at home, helps keep their loved ones out of more-expensive institutional care,” said Mike Festa, AARP MA state director.

To ask your legislator to support the bill (HB 2081), call 617-722-2000 or go to mass.gov/legis for contact information.