AARP Eye Center
West Virginia's new state requirements for caregiver designation, education, instruction.
The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act provides needed support to more than 300,000 family caregivers across the Mountain State.
The law, enacted during the 2015 West Virginia Legislature, provides support for family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital and requires upon hospitalization that health care facilities:
- Record the name of family caregivers on the medical record of a loved one;
- Inform the family caregiver when their loved one is to be discharged back home; and,
- Give the family caregiver education and instruction of the medical tasks, such as medication management, injections, wound care and transfers, they will need to perform at home.
Millions of Americans are caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one, helping them to live independently at home. For many, family caregiving is more than help with household chores or providing transportation. It includes complex care responsibilities that were once provided only by medical professionals.
In fact, almost half of the 40 million family caregivers in America have performed medical or nursing tasksfor their loved ones. These tasks include:
- Managing multiple medications.
- Providing wound care.
- Managing special diets.
- Giving injections.
- Operating monitors or other specialized medical equipment.
By providing this care, family caregivers serve a critical role in helping their loved ones remain in their own homes and out of costly institutions, such as nursing homes. Most do so with no medical training.
“Today, more 300,000 family caregivers in West Virginia face challenging health care decisions every day. As the aging population in the Mountain State increases, so does the responsibility placed upon caregivers. Adoption of the CARE Act is an important step to ensure a consistent level of care is maintained for older West Virginians in the transition from health care facility to home,” said Gaylene Miller, AARP West Virginia state director.
AARP is fighting for the CARE Act in states across the country because supporting family caregivers is a top priority for all of us.
- In 18 states the CARE Act has been signed into law and is either in effect or will be soon.
- In Puerto Rico, the CARE Act has been passed by the state legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature.
- In the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the CARE Act is being considered by the legislature.
If you are a family caregiver, you’re not alone.
- To stay up to date or to get involved with AARP’s caregiving advocacy in the states, sign up for theAARP Advocates e-newsletter or go to your state Web page.
- To find the tools and resources you need, go to the AARP Caregiver Resource Center.
- To share your story and connect with others, go to aarp.org/iheartcaregivers.
For more information on AARP’s advocacy work and resources to support family caregivers, visit www.aarp.org/caregiving.
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AARP WV Media Contact: Tom Hunter, 304.340.4605, tphunter@aarp.org
About AARP West Virginia
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