Cedar Rapids Officials Raise Awareness Of Iowa Care Act Aimed At Family Caregivers

CEDAR RAPIDS — Days before the law is set to go into effect, Cedar Rapids advocates and lobbyists gathered to educate family caregivers of the resources available to them through the Iowa CARE Act.The Family Caregiver Center of Mercy in Cedar Rapids hosted a news conference Wednesday on the Iowa Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable, or CARE, Act, set to go live July 1.The act, which was passed bipartisan support in the state’s House and Senate, is expected to address many concerns faced by family caregivers after their loved one’s hospital stay, according to advocates Wednesday.“So while the CARE Act does not really state that its purpose is being one of reducing caregiver stress, I believe that it does that,” said Kathy Good, director of the Family Caregiver Center.“This reduces caregiver angst and allows the caregiver to use their energy to be able to actually focus on meeting the needs of their loved one, rather than using their energy to deal with their own feelings of inadequacy,” she said.The group — which included representatives from the Family Caregivers Center, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Heritage Area Agency on Aging — presented wallet cards that outlines the act and the resources available to family caregivers through the law.Under this law, Iowa patients can designate a family caregiver and put that name on record when admitted to the hospital.