New Law Helps Lay Caregivers

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Lay Caregivers Law
Staff and volunteers from AARP celebrate victories for retirement security and family caregivers during Maryland’s 2016 General Assembly.

More and more seniors are choosing to age in place in their homes. The state of Maryland has just passed a new law called Maryland’s CARE Act. This will help those aging in place at home and their lay caregivers (family members) receive more desirable aftercare after hospital stays. See this article from AARP recent newsletter.

The new Designation of Lay Caregivers law (also known as Maryland’s CARE Act), taking effect on October 1, allows a patient to designate a lay caregiver, requires the hospital to notify the caregiver before the patient is discharged, and lastly prepares the caregiver for aftercare of the patient. The bill was sponsored by Senator Delores Kelley and Delegate Bonnie Cullison.

“We couldn’t have passed Maryland’s CARE Act without the work of our amazing partners and stellar volunteers. This caregiving law will give nearly 800,000 family caregivers in Maryland better support when their loved one is discharged from a hospital and needs critical aftercare,” Bresnahan said.

AARP commends the entire General Assembly for ensuring that these landmark pieces of legislation passed and have been signed into law, and will continue educating Marylanders about how these new laws will better countless lives across the state. For more information, visit AARP Maryland’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Click here to watch a video from the bill signing day.

New Law Helps Caregivers

Posted on 06/1/2016 by AARP Maryland

Seniors Lay Caregivers Aging In Place

Tending to the needs of an aging parent or other frail adult is challenging at best—and can be daunting if the caregiver isn’t sure what to do. Maryland legislators addressed that uncertainty in April by passing a law that improves communication between hospitals and family caregivers to ease patients’ transitions back home.

The law gives every hospital patient an opportunity to designate a family caregiver. The hospital must record the caregiver’s name in the patient’s chart and reach out to inform the caregiver when the patient is about to be released. In addition, hospital staff must meet with the caregiver as soon as feasible to discuss follow-up care the patient will need after discharge.

Maryland—the 25th state to pass such a law—is home to about 771,000 family caregivers who provide 717 million hours of unpaid services a year. For more information, go to aarp.org/md.