CARE Act

By Hilary Appelman

 

More than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians care for older parents, spouses or other loved ones, helping them to live independently in their own homes. These family caregivers have a huge responsibility, and on April 20, 2017, a new law takes effect that will make life a little bit easier for them.

By Cristina Rouvalis

By Cristina Rouvalis

State Plan on Aging

Legislative Approval of CARE Act Praised by AARP Pennsylvania

The budget discussions in Harrisburg reflected the winter weather this week – they appear to have gone into a deep freeze.  With no movement anticipated for the near future on resolving the remaining budget concerns, it seems appropriate to discuss another issue on AARP’s legislative priority list for 2016 – the passage of the Caregiver, Advise, Record, and Enable (CARE) Act.

The story of public policy in Pennsylvania in 2015 began with new occupants of three of the most important positions in the Commonwealth’s political structure – Governor Tom Wolf, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, and House Majority Leader Dave Reed.  They took on the leading roles in the on-again, off-again state budget drama that played out over the course of the year, beginning with the Governor’s budget address in March.

Public attention in Harrisburg this week centered on the on-going controversy about Attorney General Kathleen Kane and the behind-the-scenes negotiations to resolve Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse.  These issues garnered the headlines, but with the General Assembly continuing to work while awaiting an opportunity to consider a state budget proposal, there were other things being talked about in the halls of the Capitol.