Sen. Hwang Applauds Bipartisan Senate Passage of C.A.R.E. Act

May 8, 2015
Gathered February at a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in support of the C.A.R.E. Act are, from left, Nora Duncan, director of AARP Connecticut, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), and Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield).

Gathered February at a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in support of the C.A.R.E. Act are, from left, Nora Duncan, director of AARP Connecticut, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), Sen. Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), and Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield).

HARTFORD – On May 7, in a unanimous bipartisan vote, the Senate passed a bill that provides support to individuals who care for a loved one at home.

A co-sponsor of the bill, state Sen. Tony Hwang (R-28) praised passage of Senate Bill 290, the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act.

“Today’s vote sends an important message – that not only do we care, we are willing to work together to act and support caregivers,” Sen. Hwang said. “The provisions of this bill will ensure that these unsung heroes have the information they need to provide the best possible care to their loved ones.”

The Act would require hospitals to:

1) provide each patient with the opportunity to designate a caregiver upon the patient’s admission to the hospital;
2) notify the designated caregiver if the patient is to be discharged to another facility or back to his or her home, and;
3) provide the caregiver with instructions on how to perform medication management, wound care, injections or other medical tasks for the patient when the patient returns home.

According to the Legislative Commission on Aging, there are more than 500,000 Connecticut residents who provide care every day to their loved with tasks such as bathing, dressing, finances, transportation, and medical care. The total economic impact of this unpaid care is estimated to be $5.8 billion.

While the issue of providing care to loved ones runs across the lifespan, AARP Connecticut was a major backer of the bill. The organization even launched a project called I Heart Caregivers, which profiles caregivers across the U.S.

Nora Duncan, director of AARP Connecticut, said, “AARP appreciates the bi-partisan support and commends the leadership of the State Senate in bringing The CARE Act to a vote. Senate Bill Number 290 is a no-cost, common-sense solution that will ensure Connecticut’s more than 700,000 family caregivers receive the support and recognition they deserve. We look forward to a similar action in the House.”

According to the AARP, the average family caregiver is a 49-year-old female taking care of an older woman, usually her mother; she does this for nearly five years. She will devote at least 20 hours a week to helping her loved one with tasks like bathing and dressing, meal preparation, transportation, and chores around the house. She also has a full or part-time job.

Earlier in the legislative session, Sen. Hwang wrote an op-ed in support of the CARE Act. You can read that by clicking here.