SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Despite campaign pledges made by now President Trump, there is concern that some in Congress may move to change Medicare to a voucher-based system. AARP is launching a campaign to protect the program.

Erik Gaikowski, the state director of AARP in South Dakota, says that would be difficult for a large number of senior citizens.

"There's definitely concern, especially in a state like South Dakota that relies so much upon Medicare," he said. "We've got nearly 147,000 beneficiaries here in South Dakota, and another 170,000 that will be coming in the next 15 years."

Gaikowski says the government could save money and cut costs by eliminating fraud and waste in the programs. He also says Medicare is important to protect health-care delivery in the state.

"It is incredibly important to our health-care costs in South Dakota as well," he added. "Obviously those costs continue to rise, if we don't have that stopgap of Medicare to take care of that, we're really going to have a big issue in South Dakota and nationwide."

Gaikowski says they want the president to live up to his campaign promises.

"He said along the campaign trail that we made this deal a long time ago and we're going to live up to it," said Gaikowski. "Now our campaign is focused on Congress and making sure they stick to the president's campaign pledges."

The average yearly income for senior citizens in the country is 25,000 dollars a year, with one out of every six dollars being spent on health care.


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The Montana governor's proposed budget includes cuts to funding for senior long-term care. Those in the already-struggling industry said as more Montanans enter their 80s, a wider community will feel the effects.

Within the last three years, 11 of Montana's nursing homes closed in a single 12-month period. It adds pressure to those providers left, like Big Sky Senior Services in Billings, which provides payee services for over 100 people and offers in-home care for seniors on a sliding-fee scale.

Tyler Amundsen, executive director of Big Sky Senior Services, said keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible is the goal but there is usually a point where outside care becomes necessary.

"Then they're in crisis because we don't have enough places to send them," Amundsen observed. "Or the places that are available to send them aren't getting funded well. And so the quality of care is going down."

Amundsen added reimbursement rates are not keeping up with the rise of inflation. Gov. Greg Gianforte has proposed $50 million in cuts over the next biennium to senior and long-term care services via the Department of Public Health and Human Services, amounting to nearly 6%.

As there are fewer services and increased need, more people will likely become caregivers for family, which Amundsen emphasized will affect the workforce. He is predicting a trend called the "sandwich generation."

"They'll be taking care of their parents as well as their kids at the same time," Amundsen explained. "It just puts more strain on our communities to be able to do all the things we hope we can do."

He advises people and groups in the state pay attention to this rising issue now, before it worsens. Nearly 100,000 Montanans will enter their 80s this decade, nearly 70% more than did between 2010 and 2019.


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As Michigan's senior population steadily increases, the need for communities that prioritize their well-being becomes more critical.

With nearly 2 million people in the state aged 65 and older, it's vital to ensure they have the resources and support systems in place to thrive in their later years.

In response, AARP Michigan, along with the World Health Organization, has created the Network of Age-Friendly Communities - a five-year program that develops and renews action plans to support aging populations, using what they call the eight domains of livability.

Sadie Shattuck, communications analyst for AARP Michigan, explained what they are.

"Those eight domains," said Shattuck, "are outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, civic participation and employment - communication and information, respect and social inclusion, social participation, health services and community support, and housing."

AARP stresses that safety is also at the top of the priority list for senior living.

Their communities should create a protective environment where they feel secure, both in their homes and out in the community.

AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities provides expert resources to help local and state leaders improve housing, transportation, and public spaces for aging in place.

Michigan is one of 11 states in the network, with a dozen participating communities, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Shattuck emphasized that the goal is to create livable communities for all ages, not just seniors.

"I've talked to committee members from communities in Michigan that are part of the Network," said Shattuck, "that range from college students all the way up to someone who's in their 90s and is retired."

Statistics show that the majority of seniors live independently in private homes or apartments.

AARP Nebraska has increased its focus on educating people about cryptocurrency scams.

A measure tightening restrictions on crypto kiosks, often used by criminals trying to divert money, could face a vote in the state legislature as soon as today. Legislative Bill 609 requires operators of cryptocurrency kiosks, which operate a lot like ATMs, to be licensed under the state's Money Transmitters Act.

Jina Ragland, associate state director for AARP Nebraska, said the bill fits perfectly with the organization's savings and financial resilience initiative for the month of March, focusing on guarding against criminals who carry out financial scams.

"We know fraudulent activity targeting older Americans specifically is on the rise and even here in the state of Nebraska," Ragland reported. "A lot of that financial resilience and that education is learning about perpetrators of financial crimes."

Fraudsters typically foist romance scams on their victims, pose as government officials or offer phony online investment opportunities. Victims are often 50 years old or older. Ragland noted typically, if something appears too good to be true, it often is.

Ragland pointed out AARP Nebraska has advocated for tougher cryptocurrency kiosk regulation for several years and reminded older consumers not to overreact when they are presented with a crisis, even when it seems like time of is of the essence.

"Even in the heat of a moment when you feel emotionally involved and caught up, we always tell people 'Just stop and pause and step back from the situation,'" Ragland advised. "There is no situation no matter how dire it is that has to be solved in that immediate moment."

The city of Omaha has taken crypto kiosk regulation a step further. Businesses operating the machines have to post a written notice warning consumers of the potential fraud risks that accompany using them.