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Jim Pamlquist discussed the recently enacted "The Caregiver Advise, Record & Enable Act". By 2060 the population of 85 and older Pennsylvanians is expected more than double from what it is now. What does that mean? That means older Pennsylvanians will be counting more on family members for care than ever before. Presently there are approximately 1.5 million caregivers in Pa, and these caregivers are taking over 1.5 billion hours of unpaid leave to help their family members at the expense of their lives. What does a caregiver do besides provide support both emotionally and physically? They manage medications (this can include injections and IV solutions), they help with mobility, prepare meals, do wound care, and provide physicians with daily and sometimes hourly results from using monitors or meters(stethoscopes, blood pressure results, oxygen saturation, and Glucometer monitoring to name just a few). So why is the care act so important? It provides your loved one the opportunity to designate a caregiver, it ensures that the hospitals (medical facilities)include the caregiver in the discharge planning and provide necessary training for your loved one's care once they go home. This act also allows the hospital to consult with the caregiver, and let the caregiver ask questions about the care needed for their loved one. The hospital stay is the first in a many stepped procedure to get your loved one healthy again. The Care Act only helps a patient designate a caregiver, and have that caregiver trained to take care of them after discharge from a medical facility. If you have any questions about the Care Act please act Jim or reach out to AARP.ORG/PA they have a tremendous amount of resources for you to utilize to find answers to many questions you may have. |
