Iowa lawmakers are being asked to reconsider a bill requiring hospitals to provide instruction of medical tasks to caregivers before a patient is discharged. The legislation failed to meet a deadline last week, but AARP Iowa director Kent Sovern isn’t giving up. He says caregiver training is critical because the majority of care provided to older Iowans is not performed by trained professionals, but by friends and family….
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John Hale, a consultant on longterm care issues, says family members are often expected to perform a litany of tasks, for which they aren’t always prepared…
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The Iowa Hospital Association opposes the legislation, calling it “unnecessary and redundant,” since medical professionals already work with patients and caregivers to coordinate care. The association says that’s due to federal regulations and incentives from accrediting organizations