AARP plans legislation to help family caregivers

AARP Iowa is developing legislation to be proposed in early 2015 similar to the CARE Act recently passed in New Jersey.

The focus of the Iowa legislation will be giving family members a clear explanation of the medical tasks they may need to perform at home, such as managing medication or caring for wounds, said Ann Black, spokeswoman for AARP Iowa. The exact language still is being developed with potential sponsoring lawmakers.

The New Jersey CARE Act, signed into law Nov. 13, seeks to identify a designated family caregiver when a patient is admitted into a hospital, notify the caregiver when the patient is moved or discharged and provide that caregiver with adequate instructions for caring for the patient after discharge.

AARP Iowa is surveying Iowans in the coming weeks about the need for these services and will share the results with Iowa lawmakers during the 2015 legislative session, Black said.