Legislature Looks To Help Texas’ 3.4 Million Family Caregivers

Texans taking care of a loved one released from a hospital or rehabilitation facility would receive caregiver information and training, under a bill filed this week in the Texas Legislature.

Known as the CARE Act, the legislation would guarantee that family caregivers receive consultation in medical tasks, such as how to dress a wound or administer medications, to ensure that they can safely provide care when their loved ones return home.

State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) filed House Bill 2425. The legislation, supported by a broad group of patient-advocacy organizations and hospitals, is styled after laws in more than 30 states and would help family caregivers from the moment their loved ones go into the hospital to when they return home.

HB 2425 asks that the name of the family caregiver be recorded when a loved one is admitted into a hospital or rehabilitation facility. Secondly, the family caregiver would be notified if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home. And lastly, the hospital or rehabilitation facility would provide an explanation and instruction of the medical tasks that the family caregivers will perform at home.

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. Besides bathing and dressing, 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.

“Family caregiving is hard work and important,” said Representative Price. “Caregivers deserve our appreciation and help in keeping their loved ones healthy.”

AARP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association with more than 38 million members, including 2.3 million members in Texas. AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson said the association is fighting for the CARE Act because supporting family caregivers is a “top priority for all of us.” Jackson added, “I applaud and appreciate Representative Price for offering House Bill 2425 for all Texans.”

A recent survey of 1,110 registered voters throughout Texas age 45 and over finds that Texans are overwhelmingly in support of all components of House Bill 2425.

Commissioned by AARP, the survey found that nearly 84 percent of the survey respondents strongly support or support hospitals and care facilities recording the name of a family caregiver when a patient is admitted. More than 91 percent favor hospitals keeping the caregiver informed of major decisions about the patient. And more than 95 percent back the idea of hospitals explaining and demonstrating medical or nursing tasks that the caregiver will need to perform at home.