Advocates for the Elderly Pushing for New Legislation
Thursday, November 21st, 2019 -- 1:52 PM
(WRN) -Advocates for the elderly are pushing for new legislation that would help support loved ones who help care for an elderly family member at home.Advocates for the elderly are pushing for new legislation that would help support loved ones who help care for an elderly family member at home. AARP State Issues Director Helen Marks Dicks says one change would make sure that home caregivers have the knowledge they need once their loved one leaves the hospital.
"They're required to give instructions and education, hands on demonstrations, to the caregiver so that they can do the followup medical and nursing care."
Dicks says the 578,000 family caregivers in Wisconsin perform over 530 million hours of unpaid help each year.
"They're putting in over 20 hours a week, they're keeping their loved ones at home outside of institutions, and doing chores they never conceived of that they'd be required to do."
Dicks says one bill would offer tax credits to families of caregivers. She says in the long run that will save the state money.
"Institutions for the most part end up being funding by the state because they're so expensive that people can't stay in them for an extended period of time without taxpayer support."
Another bill would offer up a tax credit to care givers that would help offset the cost of providing that care at home.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.