CARE ACT UPDATE: Waiting for House Speaker to Bring Legislation to a Vote

You can still help by contacting House Speaker Robert DeLeo and urging him to bring the CARE Act to a vote before the Massachusetts Legislature.

AARP Massachusetts is disappointed that the CARE Act wasn't brought to a vote by the Legislature before the July 31 deadline, which was our goal.

Legislation in Massachusetts, however, can still be acted on between now and the end of the year, so we remain optimistic and hopeful that the CARE Act could still be approved at any time.

You can help by contacting House Speaker Robert DeLeo and urging him to bring the CARE Act to a vote!

We thank each and every one of you, our volunteer advocates, for supporting this important legislation, and we ask that you continue your efforts by contacting Speaker DeLeo.

Thanks also to the CARE Act sponsors for their persistence and steadfast support: Rep. Chris Walsh (D-Framingham) and Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry (D-Dorchester).

Today, more than 844,000 Bay State residents are providing in-home care for an aging parent or loved. This home-based care is allowing those loved ones to remain their own homes. Massachusetts family caregivers have a huge responsibility, and at AARP we’re committed to help lighten their load.

Legislation known as  CARE Act - OnePager - MA Sept Update for SM—the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act— will offer support to family caregivers as they safely help Massachusetts seniors stay at home.

CLICK HERE to urge Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo to take action NOW and bring the CARE Act to a vote!

The CARE Act is Massachusetts House Bill H3911, “An Act establishing the caregiver advise, record and enable (CARE) act."

What Specifically is The CARE Act?

CARE Act - OnePager - MA Sept Update for SM(pdf) recognizes the critical role family caregivers play in keeping their loved ones out of costly institutions. To that end, the bill features three important provisions:

1. The hospital patient is provided with an opportunity to designate a family caregiver;
2. The family caregiver is notified if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home; and,
3. The facility must provide an explanation and live instruction of the medical tasks – such as medication management, injections, wound care, and transfers – that the family caregiver will perform at home.

Are you a Massachusetts resident with a caregiving story?

Please share it with us at iheartcaregivers.org.

Find caregiver resources at our Caregiving Resource Center. 

CLICK HERE to urge Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo to take action NOW and bring the CARE Act to a vote!

Why Massachusetts Needs the CARE Act

• More than half (55 percent) of family caregivers report being overwhelmed by the amount of care their family member needs.
• Nearly 4 in 10 (38 percent) family caregivers report a moderate (20 percent) to high degree (18 percent) of financial strain as a result of providing care.
• In 2014, the majority (60 percent) of family caregivers had full- or part-time jobs.
• In 2010, there were 7.2 potential family caregivers for every person age 80 and older. By 2030, that ratio will fall sharply to 4 to 1, and is projected to drop further to 3 to 1 in 2050.

How Can You Help?

CLICK HERE to urge Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo to take action NOW and bring the CARE Act to a vote!

On behalf of Bay State family caregivers, thank you!

For more information, contact AARPMA Advocacy Director Jess Costantino at 617-305-0538 or  jcostantino@aarp.org, or AARPMA Senior Advocacy Specialist Austin Hodge at 617-305-0510 or ahodge@aarp.org.