2022 AARP Georgia Legislative Update
In 2022, AARP Georgia will be strongly focused on legislation that supports family caregivers, specifically the Georgia Caregivers Act.
Across our state family caregivers help their older parents, spouses, adults and children with disabilities, and other loved ones so they can live independently in their homes and communities—instead of in costly, taxpayer-funded institutions. They assist with meal preparation, managing finances, transportation, and much more.
Many Georgia family caregivers also perform medical or nursing tasks for their loved ones like complex medication management, wound care, and injections. Yet most receive little or no training for these important duties. That’s why AARP Georgia is asking the Georgia state legislature to support caregiving families with a no-cost, commonsense bill called the Georgia Caregivers Act:
The Act requires three primary elements:
- Identify: The patient identifies a caregiver upon admission to the hospital
- Notify: The caregiver is notified of the plan to discharge the patient home
- Instruct: The caregiver is given live instruction and training on the medical and nursing tasks to be performed at home.
In 2021, more than half of Georgia’s hospitals were penalized for excessive patient readmissions. The Georgia Caregivers Act could help. In states where the CARE Act is law, nurses and other health and social service professionals say it has helped them engage with family caregivers and reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations.
The Georgia Caregivers Act passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and is now on Governor Kemp's desk awaiting his signature! AARP Georgia thanks bill sponsors - Representative Lee Hawkins and Senator Dean Burke - for their efforts to support family caregivers in Georgia!
Week #12 (Mar. 28 - April 1)
The last week of the Georgia legislative session is upon us! AARP volunteer Shil Mehta is here with some great news about the Georgia Caregivers Act (as of March 30th).
Week #11 (Mar. 21 - Mar. 25)
AARP Volunteer Barbara Welcher shares this week's Capitol Catchup with an update on the fiscal year 2023 budget and the Georgia Caregivers Act.
Week #10 (Mar. 14 - Mar. 18)
AARP Volunteer Siddiqa Gibson provides an update on The Georgia Caregivers Act and other important legislation in this week's Capitol Catchup.
Week #9 (Mar. 7 - Mar. 11th)
AARP Georgia Advocacy Director Nancy Pitra is back with this week's Capitol Catch up with great news about the Georgia Caregivers Act!
Week #8 (Feb. 28 - Mar. 4)
AARP Georgia Volunteer State President Myrtle Habersham provides this week's Capitol Catchup. Check out the video for more information on a legislative resolution that will assess long term care options in the state - and an update on how the Georgia Caregivers Act is progressing through the legislature.
Week #7 (Feb. 21 - Feb. 25)
Advocacy Director Nancy Pitra is back for this week's Capitol Catchup with an exciting update about the Georgia Caregivers Act.
Week #6 (Feb. 14 - Feb. 18)
Check out this week's Capitol Catch Up from AARP volunteer Jack Bernard to learn more about AARP Georgia's top legislative priority - the Georgia Caregivers Act.
Week #5 (Feb. 7 - Feb. 11)
Great news under the gold dome this week as AARP secured sponsors for the Georgia Caregiver's Act. Find out more in this week's Capitol Catch Up with AARP Georgia volunteer State President Lee Baker. And don't forget to join us for our virtual Lobby Day on Feb. 23!
Week #4 (Jan. 31 - Feb. 4)
This week's Capitol Catch Up is brought to you by AARP Georgia Advocacy Volunteer, Kay Argroves. Kay gives us the 411 on a bill that will grant Advanced Practice Registered Nurses more authority and will help to ensure more efficiency in Georgia's health care system. Want more? Join AARP Georgia for our virtual lobby day on February 23rd!
Week #3 (Jan. 24 - 28)
This week's Capitol Catch Up features AARP State Director Debra Tyler Horton. Find out more about AARP's advocacy priority - the Georgia Caregivers Act. And register to join us for our virtual lobby day!
Week #2 (Jan. 17 - 21)
Check out our Week #2 Capitol Catch Up video update from AARP Georgia Advocacy Director, Nancy Pitra!
Week #1 (Jan. 10-14)
The Georgia General Assembly kicked off the 2022 legislative session on Monday, January 10th. Find out what happened with our Week #1 Capitol Catch Up.
STAY INFORMED!
Interested in what AARP is doing in the Georgia Statehouse? Be sure to bookmark this page as the place to find information on AARP Georgia's priority legislative issues and general updates on how the 2022 legislative session is progressing. If you would like to get involved with the advocacy efforts of AARP Georgia as a volunteer, email us at gaaarp@aarp.org
