Illinois CARE Act hospital discharge caregiver rights

Illinois' CARE Act requires hospitals to offer inpatients the opportunity to designate a caregiver who will help with aftercare at home after discharge.

Illinois · Effective · Effective Jul 27, 2015

What it is

What changed: Illinois' CARE Act creates a discharge-planning lane for patients to identify a caregiver and for hospitals to connect that caregiver to aftercare information.
Why it matters: Discharge is a high-risk handoff for caregivers; Illinois adds another state comparison point for what families can ask hospitals to document and explain before the patient goes home.
Who it touches: Family caregivers, Care providers and plans, People receiving carehospital patients returning home, family caregivers, designated caregivers, discharge planners, older adults
What it does: Gives people a right or protection
Topics: Caregivers at hospital discharge

Sources

Last reviewed Jun 18, 2026. This is information, not legal advice; check the source for the current text.