SENATOR PAT MILLER MAKES INAUGURAL LIST OF “CAPITOL CAREGIVERS”

To recognize her work to support family caregivers in Indiana, AARP recently named State Senator Pat Miller (R-32) as a 2014 “Capitol Caregiver,” a bipartisan group of 46 state legislators and three governors from 19 states.  These elected officials have advanced policies to help family caregivers who are making it possible for their older loved ones to live independently at home—where they want to be.

“AARP thanks Senator Miller for championing Senate Enrolled Act 44 this year,” said June Lyle, state director of AARP, which serves more than 820,000 members age 50 and older in Indiana.  “She provided integral leadership to ensure this larger health bill also focused on Hoosier family caregivers.  And, we appreciate that immensely.”

SEA 44 addressed many issues regarding electronic health data, including a line item establishing a work group to study patient and caregiver access to such data.

More than 1.34 million Hoosiers provide unpaid care for their older loved ones as family caregivers—valued at about $9.4 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.

“Family caregiving is one of these rare issues that crosses geographic and political lines,” Lyle said.  “This isn’t a Democratic issue.  It’s not a Republican issue.  It’s a family issue.  And, look for this to be, again, a top legislative priority for us during the upcoming session.”