(Radio Iowa) — A-A-R-P Iowa held the first of what will be several education sessions Wednesday on a new law for family caregivers that goes into effect Monday. The group’s advocacy director Anthony Carroll says the CARE Act will make an impact across the state. “Family caregivers represent the majority of long-term services and support. With over 317-thousand family caregivers who provide care to loved ones in unpaid fashion every day,” Carroll says.

The law requires hospitals to give patients the opportunity to name a caregiver at the start of the process. “If you’re going into a hospital with a loved one as a family caregiver — you perhaps don’t even identify yourself yet as a family caregiver,” Carroll says. “So, having the hospital ask a patient and loved one ‘do you have a family caregiver that you are going home to, would you like to record them and put them into your medical record’?”

There is also followup to the initial notation of a caregiver. “And if you do chose to designate a caregiver — that caregiver is notified before the patient is sent home. And then, last but not least, there’s an opportunity have a discussion about the caregiver’s abilities, limitations, and an opportunity to receive instructions on any medical care needed before that patient is sent home — rather than you get home and realize, what do I need to do, how do I need to do this,” according to Carroll.

He says the process is designed to take the surprises out of the situation for the caregiver. “Thinking from the git-go what you might need to do. Being prepared to ask questions, and then hopefully alleviating the stress that comes with that situation, being thrust in that role perhaps unanticipated after the fact,” Carroll says. “So, that’s really the idea, elevating family caregivers, helping them think about it upon admission.”

Carroll says they also understand the issues facing healthcare providers and this should help them better server patients. “The provider themselves actually has a better understanding of what exactly care reality or support reality is this patient returning home to,” he says. Carroll says A-A-R-P has information available to help you understand the new law. “There’s free downloadable cards available — you don’t have to be an A-A-R-P member — there’s no cost, at www.AARP/IA. Again, that’s an opportunity for people to understand what the new law is. You can detach a wallet card and put it in your pocket,” Carroll says.

He says they have been working with the area agencies on aging and other groups to get the information out about the new law.

MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) — The owner of an eastern Iowa recycling business is accused of cheating customers who turned in cans and bottles to get back their deposit money. Delaware County court records say 39-year-old Greg Rogers, of Manchester, is charged with theft. The records say Rogers owns Can Do Too Redemption Center in Manchester. A criminal complaint says Rogers stole more than $10,000 from customers by not paying them or not paying them the correct amount for item redemption.

Iowa law says consumers must pay 5-cent deposits on bottled or canned beverages and can then take the containers back to a store or redemption center to get back their deposits. Beverage distributors pay redemption centers 6 cents per item returned.

Three men were arrested following separate traffic stops in Glenwood. According to Glenwood Police, 26-year old Ivan Lozano, and 58-year old Douglas Prior, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested Wednesday. Lozano was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. Prior was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $566.

Today (Thursday), 53-year old Michael Holtz, of Malvern, was arrested for Driving While Barred. Bond was set at $2,000.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit was called to a residence in Bedford, Wednesday. The K9 “Ciba” indicated to the presence of narcotic substances, and following an investigation, two people were arrested: 44-year old Elmer Harwell,  and 36-year old Cynthia Butler, both of Bedford, were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Harwell was being held on in the Taylor County Jail on a $4,300 bond. Butler’s bond was set at $2,300.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet 9:00-a.m. Friday in the Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is action on extending a joint agreement between Cass and Montgomery Counties, for an Engineer. Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold was approved as interim Engineer for Montgomery County, when Brad Skinner resigned last April as the Montgomery County Engineer. The original agreement between the counties was for 60-days.

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors have been looking for a full-time Engineer ever since. They recently interviewed three candidates, but the Montgomery County Board has yet to act on a successor to Skinner.  It’s possible, if Cass County approves, Bechtold’s contract could be extended for another 30-to-60 days. His services are needed by Montgomery County, for signing off on paperwork and other administrative duties.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will act on approving the closure or limiting  access to a roadway through Marne, for the RAGBRAI weekend. The action items include: Determining the compensation of “other employees” with regard to Secondary Roads; Authorizing allowances for personal cell phone use when used for Official County Business; Approving a Resolution increasing operating transfers and amending expense appropriations for FY 2019 (if any); and, the adoption of a new Employee Information Handbook.

A woman from Nebraska was arrested in a Pottawattamie County courtroom, Wednesday, on valid Pottawattamie County warrants. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports 23-year old Breanna Nicole Evans, of Omaha, was arrested for Child Endangerment/Abandon – bodily injury, and Theft in the 5th Degree. She was transported to the Pott. County Jail.