Caregiving

Attention Nebraska family caregivers! You may be caring for an older parent or loved one helping them to live independently in their own homes. Chances are that you have a lot of responsibility for your family member’s well-being, and now there’s support in place to make life a little bit easier.

Family caregivers in Nebraska will be better prepared when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay, thanks to the Assisting Caregiver Transitions Act, which took effect March 30.

We did it! State lawmakers today unanimously approved landmark legislation strengthening supports for Nebraska’s 200,000 family caregivers and their loved ones.

A strong majority of Nebraska voters age 45 and over support paid time off for family caregiving responsibilities, according to a recent AARP survey.

AARP Nebraska has endorsed the Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights Act. LB 698, introduced by State Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, would spell out protections for Nebraskans who receive home care services to help them stay independent and reduce their need to move into a nursing home. The bill would apply to Nebraskans over the age of 60 and younger persons with disabilities.

Ensuring that Nebraska’s nearly 200,000 family caregivers know how to safely look after their loved ones when they’re discharged from the hospital tops the list of measures AARP will champion at the State Capitol during the 2016 legislative session.

Nebraskans age 45-plus strongly support proposals to help family caregivers when their older parents, spouses or other loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home, according to a new AARP statewide survey of 800 registered voters.

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To recognize their work in support of Nebraska’s family caregivers, AARP has named Gov. Pete Ricketts, and State Sens. Kate Bolz and Sue Crawford as 2015 “Capitol Caregivers,” a bipartisan group of state legislators, lieutenant governors and governors from 25 states. These elected officials have advanced policies to help family caregivers who are making it possible for older Nebraskans to live independently at home – where they want to be.

AARP Nebraska recently honored family caregiver, Teresa Thompson from Lincoln, during the annual Nebraska Caregiver Coalition luncheon held at the Governor’s Mansion.