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 helping with household chores or providing transportation. It includes complex care responsibilities that were once provided only by medical professionals.
In fact, 58 percent of the 53 million family caregivers in America have performed medical or nursing tasks for their loved ones, according to the 2020 Caregiving in the U.S. report from AARP and the National Alliance of Caregivers. These tasks include:
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By providing this care, family caregivers serve a critical role in helping their loved ones live independently at home, opposed to costly institutions, such as a nursing home. Most do so with no medical training.
These family caregivers have a big job but we can help with some basic support — and commonsense solutions — to make their big responsibilities a little bit easier. That’s why AARP urges state lawmakers to pass the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act and help family caregivers as their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home.
The CARE Act requires hospitals to:
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 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the CARE Act has been signed into law and is either in effect or will be soon.
If the CARE Act has passed in your state, click here to download a CARE Act wallet card to place in your and your loved one’s wallets—next to your insurance cards. That way, you’ll both have important information about this new law available when you need it most
If you are a family caregiver, you’re not alone.
