To recognize their work to support family caregivers in Washington, AARP has named Gov. Jay Inslee, Sen. Barbara Bailey (R-District 10) and Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-District 24) as 2016 “Capitol Caregivers,” a bipartisan group of elected officials representing more than 23 states.

AARP leaders say these leaders have championed policies to help family caregivers who are making it possible for older Washingtonians to live independently in their homes and communities — where they want to be.

“AARP thanks Gov. Inslee, Sen. Bailey and Rep. Tharinger for championing the ‘CARE Act’ this year,” said Mike Tucker, state president of AARP, which serves more than 958,000 members age 50 and older in Washington. “They provided integral leadership to pass the new law this year to help make the big responsibilities of family caregivers in Washington a little bit easier.”

The CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable) Act supports family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home. The new law includes three provisions:

• The name of the family caregiver is recorded when a loved one is admitted into a hospital;

• The family caregiver is notified if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home; and,

• The facility must provide instruction or training on the aftercare tasks — such as medication management, injections, wound care and transfers — that the family caregiver will perform at home.

“Family caregivers are vital to helping seniors age in their homes and communities,” said Tharinger, a Democrat from Sequim. “We should do everything we can to make their job easier by giving them respite, training and information about services.”