Caregivers, Know Your Rights

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and AARP Mississippi aims to mark the observance by making sure caregivers know their rights under a new state law.

AARP Mississippi is distributing wallet cards outlining family caregivers’ rights under the state’s Caregiver Act. The law allows every hospital patient to designate a family caregiver and requires the hospital to record the caregiver’s contact information in the patient’s chart. The hospital also must make reasonable efforts to keep the caregiver informed about discharge plans and show the caregiver how to perform follow-up medical tasks the patient will need at home.

Mississippi is home to more than 500,000 family caregivers, whose unpaid services are worth about $5.4 billion a year.

To request a wallet card, email msaarp@aarp.org or call 866-554-5382 toll-free.