CMS Launches New Videos Highlighting Essential Information and Resources for Caregivers

BALTIMORE, May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Ask Medicare Initiative has developed two new "how to" videos to help caregivers successfully transition loved ones from a hospital to home setting.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:  http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/cms/44066/

The new videos address:

1. Planning for a Discharge, including questions to ask hospital staff and preparations to make before loved ones leave the hospital to ensure a successful and stress-free transition.
2. Tips for a Hospital-to-Home Transition, including guidance on working with health care providers, preparing the home for new equipment needs, and planning for additional expenses.

The new videos are just one element of the Ask Medicare Initiative, which is like a GPS system for caregivers, helping them navigate challenging issues and find necessary information to make better healthcare decisions for their loved ones.  The main feature of Ask Medicare is a one-stop, easy-to-use Web site (www.medicare.gov/caregivers) with targeted information, decision-making resources, and support tools.  The Web site also includes a free e-newsletter and instructive, personal stories from caregivers.

More than 44 million Americans provide an estimated $375 billion in care for others.  These caregivers provide a wide range of assistance from picking up prescriptions to managing appointments and finances to providing dedicated in-home care.  Caregivers often feel alone and overwhelmed, juggling a myriad of competing responsibilities under significant time-constraints.  

CMS created the Ask Medicare Initiative to support the nation's caregivers and provide them information and resources to help create a healthier life for their loved one.

SOURCE Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services