AARP presents Sen. Baker with award for her support of family caregivers

AARP Hawaii advocacy volunteers from Maui and across the state descended on the state Capitol Jan. 17 to talk with lawmakers about AARP Hawaii's legislative priorities for the 2017 session.

The volunteers, dressed in red AARP shirts, hosted a coffee hour for lawmakers and their staff, then fanned out in groups to speak with key representatives and senators in the afternoon.

During a visit with Maui Sen. Roz Baker, AARP State Director Barbara Kim Stanton and State Volunteer President Gerry Silva, who grew up on Maui, presented Baker with the "2016 Capitol Caregiver" award for her leadership in championing the passage of the CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable) Act.

House Speaker Joe Souki was honored with the same award during a ceremony on Maui last month. Baker was unable to attend at the time.

AARP Hawaii's legislative priorities this session are to pass a resolution to create a task group to come up with ways to help people save for retirement; to fully fund Kupuna Care, the Aging and Disability Resource Center and Healthy Aging programs; support Kupuna Caregivers; and to make sure the CARE Act, which passed in the 2016 legislative session, is fully implemented when it becomes law on July 1.

The award is given to a select, bipartisan group of elected officials across the country who have fought for family caregivers -- identifying needs facing caregivers, overcoming barriers that prevent caregivers from getting support and establishing policies that will help family caregivers get the tools they need to care for their loved ones.

The CARE Act requires acute care hospitals to: 1. Designate a caregiver to which will be recorded on the patient's health record; 2. Notify caregivers prior to their loved one's discharge or transfer to another facility; 3. Offer the caregiver the opportunity to receive instructions on medical tasks needed to be performed at home following discharge.