A new bill before the Nevada Legislature aims to help family caregivers be better prepared to take care of loved ones at home, and in the process reduce costly hospital readmissions.
Known as the CARE Act, SB177 would improve communication between hospitals and caregivers, ensuring the caregiver is notified when a loved one is discharged or transferred, and receives instruction on any after-care required at home – such as dressing wounds or managing prescriptions. These common sense steps can make the difference between a successful transition home and a return trip to the hospital, or worse.
The bill will be heard in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25.
Every day, hundreds of thousands of Nevadans serve as family caregivers, providing unpaid care ranging from household tasks to transportation. According to recent AARP research, more than 70 percent of Nevada caregivers also perform complex medical tasks – often with little or no training.
“If you’ve ever been a caregiver – for a parent, a spouse, or even a disabled child – you know that good communication with health professionals is critical, especially when your family member is coming home from the hospital,” said AARP Nevada State Director Carla Sloan.
“Passing the CARE Act will be a win all the way around – helping hospitals reduce readmissions, ensuring caregivers are prepared and confident in providing care, and ultimately helping our loved ones live more independently at home,” Sloan added.
Organizations across Nevada endorsing passage of the CARE Act include:
Aging Services Directors Organization
Alzheimer’s Association of Northern Nevada
Alzheimer’s Association of Southern Nevada
Arthritis Foundation
BrightStar Care
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada Family Services
Center for Healthy Aging
Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Colors of Lupus Nevada
Commission on Services for Persons with Disabilities
Consumer Assistance and Resource Enterprise (CARE)
Consumer Direct Personal Care
Easter Seals
Human Services Network
Las Vegas Urban League
Latin Chamber of Commerce Nevada, Inc.
Lawrence Matheis, Retired
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
Legislative Committee on Seniors, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs
Lutheran and Episcopal Advocacy in Nevada
Nevada Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates Inc.
Nevada Association of Social Workers
Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation
Nevada Commission on Aging
Nevada Delegation of the National Silver Haired Congress
Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
Nevada Nurses Association
Nevada Public Health Association
Nevada Senior Services
Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum
Nevada Women’s Lobby
Nevadans for the Common Good
Opportunity Village
Personal Care Association of Nevada
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
Religious Alliance in Nevada
Senior Spectrum Newspapers
Southern Nevada Senior Law Program
Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease
The Continuum
The Senior Sage
Washoe County Senior Services
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