Serino Supports Family Caregivers

SERINO SUPPORTS FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Co-Sponsors Bill to Provide Better Care to Patients at Home

ALBANY, NY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park), Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, announced today that the Senate has passed the CARE Act—a bill she co-sponsors that will drastically improve quality of care at home for New York patients and seniors.

“As the Chair of the Aging Committee I am incredibly proud to have co-sponsored a bill that I  know will go a long way in helping our seniors cut medical costs, maintain their independence and improve the quality of care they receive at home,” said Senator Serino.

Often members of our families, close friends, or members of our communities, volunteer to act as caregivers for their loved ones after a medical procedure. However, these caregivers are repeatedly left in the dark when it comes to post-treatment care. They receive little or no instruction on the serious tasks they’re expected to carry out, like administering medications and caring for healing wounds.

The Caregiver Advise, Record, and Enable (CARE) Act aims to remedy that issue by allowing a patient to identify a caregiver at the hospital to be involved in the discharge plan of that patient. By requiring the caregiver to be provided post-discharge care instructions, the bill ensures that the patient will receive the highest quality of care at home and will reduce the risk of costly hospital readmission.

The bill is sponsored by the Chair of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Kemp Hannon.

“Information is power, and this bill gives caregivers the tools they need to help individuals heal right the first time,” continued Serino.  “Passing it today will cut costs by helping avoid expensive returns to the hospital, empower caregivers to get their loved ones back on their feet, and help our seniors maintain their independence.”

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.

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