A Legislative committee is considering bills to help family members who provide home care for loved ones.
One measure would make sure hospitals give family caregivers enough information so they can take care of someone at home. AARP North Dakota says this doesn’t always happen.
Barbara Handy-Marchello of Bismarck has been caring for her 90 year old mother, and she said she has spent some time with her in hospital emergency rooms. She said she was given no training or instructions on how to care for ger mother. And she said her husband was in the hospital last spring with blood clots in his lungs.
"We were set home after 12 hours with no written instructions," Handy-Marchello said. "I'm scrambling. 'What do I do? How do I take care of him? Is there something about rest or exercise? What if he reacts badly to the pills?'"
Handy-Marchello compared it to a time when her dog had major surgery.
"We went home with 10 pages of instructions," Handy-Marchello said. "My vet went to her computer,m punched a button, printed out the pages. I knew every day how to take care of the dog. I don't get that from my physician."
A second bill would make it easier for family caregivers to find services and support to give them a break once in a while.
The two bills are pending in the House Human Services Committee.