Giving Family Caregivers the Know-How They Need

Ivelin Radkov

AARP is encouraging lawmakers in Wyoming to pass legislation in 2016 that could better prepare family caregivers when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

The bill would encourage hospitals to let every patient designate a caregiver, to notify the caregiver about discharge plans and to prepare the caregiver to handle the patient’s followup care, such as managing medications or dressing wounds. Supporters say the measure could reduce costly hospital readmissions.

Family caregivers in Wyoming provide about $817 million a year in unpaid services for adult loved ones.

AARP members who want to help with advocacy on this issue can find their legislators’ phone numbers and email addresses at legisweb.state.wy.us.