Senator Jim McClendon, Representative April Weaver Recognized With National AARP Award
Presented during the Shelby County Chamber’s Alabama Legislative Preview Event
(BIRMINGHAM, AL) – To honor their integral work supporting Alabama’s family caregivers during the 2018 session, AARP Alabama recognized Senator Jim McClendon and Representative April Weaver as “Capitol Caregivers” at the Shelby County Chamber 2019 Alabama Legislative Preview Event.
AARP’s 2018 “Capitol Caregivers” are a bipartisan group of 65 elected officials from 24 states. These leaders have advanced policies that support family caregivers, who help their parents, spouses and other loved ones live independently at home and in the community—where they want to be.
“AARP Alabama thanks Senator McClendon and Representative Weaver for championing the Nurse Signature Act,” says Candi Williams state director of AARP Alabama, which serves more than 440,000 Alabamians age 50 and older. “They provided key leadership to pass this common sense legislation and to help make family caregivers’ many responsibilities a little bit easier.”
The Nurse Signature Act made a simple change that will reduce time spent on cumbersome paperwork and increase efficiencies by allowing providers more opportunities to see patients and deliver needed care. Governor Kay Ivey signed the bill into law in March of 2018.
The Shelby County Event was held at Jefferson State Community College’s Shelby Campus on Thursday, February 22nd and featured most of the Shelby County Legislative delegation. AARP Alabama was excited to be the event sponsor.
Almost 761,000 Alabamians provide unpaid care for their older parents, spouses and other loved ones—valued at $7.7 billion in Alabama annually. They help with bathing and dressing, meal preparation, managing finances, transportation, grocery shopping and more.
“AARP Alabama will continue to advocate for family caregivers and their loved ones in the upcoming 2019 session,” stated Williams. “We are excited to work with Representative Weaver on her pre-filed Nurse Compact bill that will ease red tape and increase access for Alabamians, particularly in rural and underserved areas.”
