Jefferson City – On Jan. 23, 2019, State Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, was recognized by AARP Missouri for his legislative efforts in passing legislation that aims to empower family caregivers.
Senate Bill 991, also known as the Caregiver, Advise, Record and Enable (CARE) ACT ensures that a hospital or ambulatory surgical center provides patients with the opportunity to designate and record their family caregiver in their medical records. The bill also ensures the caregiver will be notified in the event the patient is discharged or transferred to another facility. Upon discharge, the bill specifies that the family caregiver is provided with a demonstration as well as instructions on how they must care for their family member.
The language for this legislation was placed in Senate Bill 718, which was signed by the governor following the 2018 legislative session.
“I am humbled to be recognized by this organization. I believe this new law will play an important role in ensuring that Missouri families are informed and equipped with the necessary skills to ensure that their family members are provided with adequate levels of care when they leave the hospital,” said Sen. Sifton. “I’m just so glad I could pass this legislation for all the family caregivers in Missouri.”
Senator Sifton and a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives took over carrying this legislation when former Rep. Cloria Brown, R-St. Louis County, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.