Tell General Assembly: Pass CARE Act

AARP advocates in Iowa say it’s high time their state joined dozens of others in helping family caregivers be prepared to provide medical care when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act was introduced in the Iowa General Assembly in the last three sessions, but the legislation has yet to reach a floor vote. The bill, already enacted in 39 states and territories, would let every hospital patient in Iowa designate a family caregiver and would help the caregiver provide competent follow-up care after the patient is released.

“Our lawmakers have failed to make assisting family caregivers a priority,” said Anthony Carroll, AARP associate state director for advocacy. “We need AARP members to tell their legislators that improving caregivers’ lives is our priority and should be theirs as well.”

To send a message to your state legislators, go to action.aarp.org/IACaregivers.