2015 AARP Survey of Iowa Registered Voters Age 45 and Older on Caregiving

The recently released study found that nearly all (91%) Iowa family caregivers age 45-plus believe it is important to be able to provide care so that their loved ones can keep living independently in their own home and many would prefer that they or their loved ones be cared for at home if necessary.   More than 80 percent of Iowa registered voters age 45 and older supports measures in The Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable (CARE) Act, which will help unpaid family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. The bill features three important provisions that require hospitals to provide instructions on the medical tasks the family caregiver may need to perform at home, keep a family caregiver informed of major decisions, like transferring or discharging the patient, and to engage with caregivers by recording the name of the family caregiver when a loved one is admitted into a hospital.

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• Key findings include:Most Iowa registered voters age 45 and older have experiences as family caregivers, or believe they are likely to be caregivers in the future.
• More than 80 percent of Iowa registered voters age 45 and older support measures in The Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable (CARE) Act.
• Both current and former caregivers have provided care in a myriad of ways, with two-thirds assisting with complex care like medication management (65%) and other medical tasks (65%).
• About 90 percent of Iowa registered voters age 45 and older who are current or past caregivers say it is important for them to receive training or instruction on medical tasks they may need to perform upon hospital discharge of a loved one.
• Nearly all of these caregivers believe it is important to be able to provide care so that their loved ones can keep living independently in their own home.

AARP Iowa commissioned a telephone survey of 1,000 Iowa registered voters age 45 and older to learn about their experiences with family caregiving.  This report highlights results from registered voters interviewed between November 20th and November 30th 2014.  The data has been not weighted.  For more information, contact Cassandra Burton at CCantave@aarp.org.