Caregiving

By Mark Hollis

AARP Launches National Campaign Urging More Support for Family Caregivers, Passage of Bipartisan Credit for Caring Act.

AARP Texas has collaborated with Texas Appleseed, a nonprofit advocacy organization, to produce a tool kit for financial caregivers who manage money or property for loved ones unable to do so themselves. “Managing Someone Else’s Money in Texas” includes six guides tailored to people serving in specific roles, such as agents under a power of attorney and court-appointed guardians. The kit also includes a fraud-fighting guide to help prevent elder financial abuse.

2019 Texas Legislative Review

Texas ranks 35 th when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents and people with disabilities, and AARP warns more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to meet changing demographic demands. Specific areas of concern in Texas include the percent of high-risk nursing home residents with pressure sores, as well as the percent of nursing home residents who are inappropriately receiving an antipsychotic medication. This, according to a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and SCAN Foundation.

The new Statewide Interagency Aging Services Coordinating Council has started work on a five-year plan to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population.

** High-Priority Nursing Home Quality Legislation Approved **

AARP Texas fought hard this legislative session on issues important to older Texans and their families, and lawmakers listened. From prescription drug affordability and funding for adult protective services to high-speed internet access, and much more, we achieved several victories for Texans age 50-plus.

Texas lawmakers today finalized a measure that gives important new rights to millions of unpaid family caregivers. A priority for AARP, House Bill 2425 (companion to Senate Bill 1417) would help Texans when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. The legislation goes next to the governor’s desk.

In Texas alone, there are more than 3.4 million unpaid family caregivers, many of whom provide complex medical and nursing tasks for their loved ones, and sometimes without adequate explanation or training. It’s not unusual for their tasks to include managing multiple medications, providing wound care, overseeing special diets, and operating high-tech medical equipment and monitors.