Minnesota Lawmakers Honored as "Capitol Caregivers"

Four Minnesota legislators were honored by AARP recently for their work to support Minnesota family caregivers in 2014.

Senators Sandy Pappas and Kathy Sheran and Representatives Carly Melin and Dan Schoen were named “Capitol Caregivers” by AARP Minnesota.  The legislators are part of a bipartisan group of 46state legislators and 3 governors from 19 states who were recognized. These elected officials have advanced policies to help family caregivers who are making it possible for older Americans to live independently at home—where they want to be.

“AARP thanks all of these legislators for championing laws to increase access to health care providers in Minnesota and to provide access to earned leave for workers caring for an adult,” said Will Phillips, AARP Minnesota State Director. “Minnesota's Capitol Caregivers have been leaders on health care and caregiving issues at the state legislature and have a proven track record of working in a bipartisan fashion to create common sense solutions.”

 

The two new laws cited by AARP include:

• A new bipartisan law to remove outdated barriers which prohibited advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) from practicing to the full extent of their education and training. These barriers often delay care to consumers and  place added stress on family caregivers, who are all too often overwhelmed with bearing the brunt of providing and overseeing the care of a loved one.
• The Women’s Economic Security Act which included provisions to help family caregivers who have to take time off work to bring their older loved one to a doctor’s appointment.

“Family caregiving is one of these rare issues that crosses geographic and political lines. This isn’t a Democratic issue. It’s not a Republican issue. It’s a family issue,” said Phillips. “AARP will continue to recognize and honor

legislators who step forward to help make the job of unpaid family caregivers a little easier.”

More than 670,000 Minnesotans provide unpaid care for their older loved ones as family caregivers—valued at more than $8 billion annually. They help with bathing and dressing, meal preparation, managing finances, transportation, grocery shopping and more.

Today, family caregivers also perform medical tasks like wound care, injections, and complex medication management.  In 2015 AARP is supporting a bipartisan bill called to CARE Act (HF 210/SF 107), that will improve communication with and training for unpaid family caregivers.  In addition to AARP the CARE Act has received the support of the Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota and North Dakota, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association,
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Caregivers Creating Change, Family Means, National MS Society Upper Midwest Chapter, Open Arms Minnesota, University of Minnesota’s Center on Aging