Author: Elizabeth Rolf

Elizabeth Rolf

Designing the Maine CARE Act

AARP Maine is working with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors to create L.D. 666, the Caregiver Advise, Record, and Enable (CARE) Act. Under this act, hospitals will record the names of caregivers of a patient to instruct caregivers on proper care instructions for their patient, inform caregivers when the patient it discharged from the hospital, and help ease the care transition process. This legislation would help protect patients from re-admittance to hospitals, and guide family caregivers through nursing tasks with ease. With nearly 200,000 family caregivers in Maine, the CARE Act will educate family members and protect patients during care transitions.

To read the full article from centralmaine.com, please click here: http://www.centralmaine.com/2015/04/01/l-d-666-gives-direct-support-to-family-caregivers/

Elizabeth Rolf

California In-Home Caregivers Get Tax Break

California’s In-Home Support Services (IHSS) pays caregivers for caring for low income elderly patients, allowing the elderly to stay in their private homes and out of nursing homes. Now, caregivers that live in the homes of their patients will not be taxed on their incomes. The IRS applies this rule to all state Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs, including California’s IHSS. However, the caregivers often have incomes that are so low, that they need their incomes to be taxable in order to claim the income tax credit. The rule is the same for paid caregiving relatives that live in the home.

For the full article, please visit the San Francisco Chronicle website: http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/networth/article/Little-known-tax-break-for-in-home-caregivers-6126375.php

Elizabeth Rolf

Iowans Want Services for Unpaid Caregivers

The 2015 survey conducted by AARP shows that most people over the age of 45 across the state are in support of helping unpaid family caregivers. Of over 380,000 registered voters in the survey, most support naming family caregivers on medical records, and teaching the family caregivers simple medical procedures that could be done in the home. Results from the survey showed that Iowans realize that they are family caregivers, or will be in the future, and Iowans recognize the need to support unpaid caregivers in their communities.

To see the full article from the Quad City Times, please follow this link: http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/aarp-survey-reveals-an-unpaid-caregivers-a-silent-army-in/article_5a776b47-e6dd-5d3a-aa9c-fdd52b2a9277.html

To read the full survey from AARP, please click here: http://states.aarp.org/new-survey-shows-large-majority-of-likely-iowa-voters-45-support-measures-to-help-family-caregivers/

Elizabeth Rolf

California Program Aids Home-Owning Seniors

California has introduced a program to help older residents that have fallen behind on property tax or insurance payments. The $2 billion federal program will be enacted through the Keep Your Home California program, and will provide up to $25,000 of assistance to those who demonstrate need. This pilot program will assist residents age 62 and older stay in their homes and recover from financial hardships such as a decrease in income or expensive medical bills.

To read the full LA Times article, click here: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-re-seniors-reverse-mortgages-20150217-story.html

Follow this link to the Keep Your Home California website: http://www.keepyourhomecalifornia.org/reverse-mortgage-assistance-program/

Elizabeth Rolf

South Dakota Democrats Talk Medicaid Expansion

South Dakota democrats have said that state Medicaid expansion is still on the table. Although there are concerns as to how much the expansion will cost, expanding Medicaid will protect hospitals from the financial burden of covering the costs of the uninsured.

To listen to Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton speak on the issue, please follow this link to WNAX Radio’s website: http://wnax.com/news/180081-south-dakota-democrats-talk-medicaid-expansion/