Senior Issues / Public News Service

Care industry officials say there is a shortage of qualified caretakers because of low pay and poor working conditions. (LightfieldStudios/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Poll Underscores Need for Long-Term Investments for AZ Caregivers

TUCSON, Ariz. -- New polling data from a dozen states, including Arizona, show public support for a key part of the Biden administration's economic …

Social Security lifts more than one million U.S. children out of poverty, along with some 26,000 elderly residents in Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Economists Challenge Warnings of Social Security's Demise

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Social Security, the program credited with lifting 15 million older residents in Wyoming and across the U.S. out of poverty…

AARP surveys have shown that, nationwide, three in four people would prefer to age at home. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Survey Aims to Better Understand Unmet Needs of IN Caregivers

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana officials are conducting a survey to better understand the unmet needs of caregivers across the state, which they say will …

The Social Security program will only be able to make full payouts for the next 12 years, according to a new report. (larryhw/Adobe Stock)

Report: Pandemic Will Cause Social Security Funding Shortage

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The pandemic presents some future funding challenges to benefits for older Americans, according to the 2021 Social Security and …

President Joe Biden's American Families Plan would provide paid family leave and improved pay and working conditions for caregivers. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Groups Back American Families Plan to Boost Pay for Caregivers

PHOENIX, Ariz. - A coalition of social activists and care-industry groups is calling for Congress to pass President Joe Biden's American Families …

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found many people enrolled in Medicare go without dental care. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Back Expanding Medicare to 'Treat the Whole Person'

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, has introduced legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing and vision care…

Six in ten Michigan voters age 25 to 64 say they're anxious about having enough money saved for retirement. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: MI Voters Want Policymakers to Make Saving for Retirement Easier

LANSING, Mich. - More than 80% of Michigan voters age 25 to 64 think the state should make it easier for workers to save for retirement, according to …

Around 85% of more than 200 small business owners in New York feel that workplace retirement savings plans are too expensive to pay on their own, according to an AARP NY survey. (Adobe Stock)

Push is On for Stronger NY Retirement Savings Program to Become Law

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A bill to bolster the New York Secure Choice Savings Program will reach Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk in the coming months. Proponents of …

As of late July, fewer than one in ten Michigan nursing homes had at least 75% of its staff members vaccinated, which is the industry standard for this type of facility. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Group Urges MI Nursing-Home Staff, Residents to Get Vaccinated

LANSING, Mich. -- The most recent Michigan data showed 51% of staff and residents of nursing homes have been vaccinated against COVID-19, despite the …

Access-A-Ride returned to scheduling shared rides on July 6, with a mask requirement per governor's order, but no vaccine mandate for passengers or drivers. (Flickr/Chris Sampson)<br /> — Access-A-Ride returned to scheduling shared rides on July 6, with a mask requirement per governor's order, but no vaccine mandate for passengers or drivers. (Flickr/Chris Sampson)

Disability Advocates Call on MTA to Resume Solo ‘Access-A-Ride’ Trips

NEW YORK - Tomorrow, advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities will ask the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to stop the shared-ride model for …

About 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long-term services in their lifetime. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Private Long-Term Insurance Costly Alternative to WA Cares Fund

SEATTLE - Washington state has established a long-term care fund for working people, but advocates of the program are concerned about predatory …

Around 57% of adults in Ohio are fully vaccinated. (Adobe Stock)

OH Vaccination Program Reaching Homebound Residents

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's homebound residents interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have a new option, which can come right to their door…

In North Dakota, more than 90% of nursing-home residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, compared with just 64% of staff. (Adobe Stock)

As Variants Spread, Vaccination Pressure Builds for Nursing-Home Staffs

BISMARCK, N.D. - Amid a COVID-19 resurgence, advocates are calling on nursing homes to require that all staff members get vaccinated. Both nationally …

Almost half of all Black adults say they do not answer a call from someone they do not know, but two thirds report using the same or similar passwords across different accounts. (Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals Scammer Tactics Targeting Black, Latino Adults

DENVER - Nearly 40% of Black and Latino adults in Colorado and across the U.S. have been targeted by scammers, according to new AARP research…

AARP and more than 80 other organizations have endorsed the Credit for Caring Act. (Ocskay Bence/Adobe Stock)

NH Groups: Family Caregivers Could Benefit from Credit for Caring Act

CONCORD, N.H. - More than 48 million people nationwide become unpaid caregivers for an adult family member or friend each year, and new survey data …

Americans who miss the Aug. 15 special enrollment deadline to obtain health coverage through the Affordable Care Act will need to wait until Nov. 1 for another chance to apply. (aarp.org)

Deadline Approaches for Special ACA Health-Insurance Enrollment

AUSTIN, Texas - One week remains before the window closes for Texans to take advantage of a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act…

More than half of Nebraska's home internet users in non-rural parts of the state have a cable internet connection, compared with just one in 10 rural homes, who rely on DSL, satellite or wireless. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 79% of Voters Want Lawmakers to Expand High-Speed Internet Access

LINCOLN, Neb. -- More than half of Nebraska voters age 50 and older in rural parts of the state are having a hard time accessing high-speed internet…

In the United States, home-care workers, mostly women and people of color, earn on average only $12 an hour. (Adobe Stock)

NY Disability Rights Advocates Seek Federal Dollars for Home Care

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Advocates for people with disabilities in New York are pushing for the federal budget resolution to include $400 billion in Medicaid …

According to AARP Connecticut, 47% of family caregivers have had at least one financial setback, such as having less money for retirement or savings, or cutting back on their own healthcare spending. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Aid Could Offset Costs for CT Family Caregivers

HARTFORD, Conn. - In Connecticut, more than 460,000 people care for close friends or family members who can't manage on their own - and their …

Groups including Caring Across Generations, Michigan Care in Action, the Arc of Michigan, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, SEIU and others held a roundtable this week on the importance of legislation to boost the care sector. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups Urge Congress to Invest in Home, Community-Based Services

LANSING, Mich. -- Advocates for home- and community-based services in Michigan urged Congress to build off state efforts and invest in what's become …

Public health experts say while the Delta variant is fueling a rise in COVID cases, they don't anticipate dangerous spikes like the ones seen this past winter. (Adobe Stock)

Breaking Down the Facts on Breakthrough COVID Cases

MINNEAPOLIS - As COVID cases trend upward again, public-health experts are setting the record straight on certain storylines about new infections…

Social Security reduces your payment if you start collecting benefits before your full retirement age, currently 66 and 2 months, and is gradually rising to 67 for people born in 1960 or later. (Adobe Stock)

Money Milestones Series Aims to Beef Up Wyomingites’ Financial Skills

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- AARP Wyoming is gearing up for a series of Webinars and Telephone Town Halls to help residents of all ages get their financial …

In early July, the Biden administration canceled nearly $56 million in student-loan debt, mostly connected to institutions engaging in misconduct, including promising jobs or falsely claiming credits would transfer to universities.(Adobe Stock)

Scammers Targeting Nebraska Student-Loan Holders

LINCOLN, Neb. - Student-loan forgiveness has become an increasingly popular scam targeting young adults, and as an October deadline looms, consumer …

Homebound seniors who are not tech-savvy can be difficult to reach with information about the COVID-19 vaccine. (jcfrog/Pixabay)

"Your Shot Texas" Boosts Vaccinations with Nonprofit Grant Money

AUSTIN, Texas -- "Your Shot Texas" is set to give additional nonprofit, community-based organizations money for programs that increase access to …

Senior champion Jeff Salter, age 50, says riding an e-bike illustrates that people can do more with a little assistance than they can alone. (Veronica Yankowski)

Amarillo By Morning: Cyclist Raises Awareness, Money for Seniors

SAN ANTONIO -- The 65-and-older population has grown by over one-third in the past decade, which prompted a Texas man to take a cross-country bike …

An AARP study finds family caregivers spend an average of 26% of their income on caregiving activities. (verbaska/Adobe Stock)

Study: Taking Care of Family Costly for Caregivers

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Family caregiving is rewarding and challenging, and it can also put a big strain on people's wallets. A new study from AARP found …

The State of California spends $5 billion to $6 billion per year on nursing home care. (Creative House/Adobe Stock)

Hearing, Rallies Today on Bill to Reform CA Nursing Homes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- As the legislative session in Sacramento comes to a close, lawmakers will consider a bill to require nursing homes to better …

Family caregivers are spending, on average, 26% of their income on caregiving activities, according to an AARP report. (Adobe stock)

Report: Family Caregivers Buckling Under Out-of-Pocket Expenses

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Caring for an older loved one can be emotionally draining, and a new report shows 78% of family caregivers also face significant …

Chris Davis of Upland passed away in 2019 before he could access aid-in-dying medications. His family says the hospital gave them misinformation. (Amanda Villegas)

Advocates Press for Improvements to CA's Aid-in-Dying Rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill to speed up the process for terminally ill patients to access aid-in-dying medications will be heard tomorrow in the …

A new report says family caregivers in the United States spend more than $7,000 a year on average in out-of-pocket expenses. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Out-of-Pocket Expenses Squeezing Family Caregivers

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Providing care for a loved one comes with a lot of stress. A new report said there's financial pressure too, especially when it …

July 2020 was the hottest recorded month in Boston, and climate planners predict it's a record that could be broken often in the future. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

MA Climate Planner Warns of Extreme Summer Heat

BOSTON -- More and more summer days in Massachusetts are reaching temperatures above 90 degrees, and climate resiliency planners say the trend is …

More than 50% of the New Hampshire population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

Unvaccinated in NH? Get 'One-on-One' Time with Healthcare Providers

CONCORD, N.H. - Health experts and advocates for older Americans are encouraging unvaccinated New Hampshire residents to have one-on-one …

A new survey finds the vast majority of Arizona seniors prefer staying in their home to receive long-term care services, rather than moving into a group-care facility. (AnthonyDiaz/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Arizona Seniors Support Long-Term Care Reform

PHOENIX, Ariz - Arizona seniors want policymakers to reform what they see as the state's outdated long-term care system - to provide safe, high-…

An Emergency Broadband Benefit Program could help families who qualify for certain federal assistance programs get access to high-speed internet, and afford a laptop, desktop computer or tablet through participating service providers. (Adobe Stock)

CT Residents Without Internet Could Gain Access Through FCC Program

HARTFORD, Conn. - Even as economic recovery from the pandemic continues, more than 116 million U.S. residents had difficulty paying household bills …

Amid a recent spike in temperature, Texas residents were asked to set their thermostats higher, turn off lights and avoid using larger appliances to protect the power grid. (926663/Pixabay)

Texans Face Hot Summer, Fragile Power Grid

AUSTIN, Texas - Some areas of Texas already have approached triple-digit temperatures this month, and there's concern older adults could face grave …

A common scam that snares older Americans are email offers for free gift cards, which are a way to capture personal information that could jeopardize finances. (Adobe stock)

MD Spotlights Senior Financial Fraud on Elder Abuse Awareness Day

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and a coalition of groups in Maryland are marking the day with a week-long campaign to …

From transportation to housing, Bismarck is resetting its vision for the city's livability factors, hearing from older residents. (Adobe Stock)

Is Your City Age-Friendly? Bismarck Tackles That Question

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Bismarck is laying out its vision for future planning. As ideas come together, it has become the first North Dakota city to adopt a …

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new drug to treat the disease. (Alterfines/Pixabay)

Texas Researcher Puzzled Over New Alzheimer’s Drug Approval

HOUSTON -- News this week about a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer's disease is getting mixed reactions from some researchers, including in Texas…

Around 72% of older Mainers live in communities without access to fixed- or flex-route public transportation services. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Program to Give Rides for Non-Medical Errands to Eligible Seniors

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Legislature has passed a bill to launch a pilot program to give eligible older residents and people with disabilities …

California is implementing dozens of initiatives to make the state a more "age-friendly" place to live. (AARP)

California Becomes the Latest “Age-Friendly” State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California is now officially an "age-friendly" state thanks to a new partnership between the California Department of Aging and …

Nebraskans age 50 and older contribute more than $2 billion each year in unpaid family caregiving.<br />(Sabinevanerp/Pixabay) — Nebraskans age 50 and older contribute more than $2 billion each year in unpaid family caregiving.
(Sabinevanerp/Pixabay)

NE Lawmakers Begin Phasing Out State Taxes on Social Security Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska lawmakers are leaning on older residents to help boost the state's economic recovery. Last week Gov. Pete Ricketts signed …

A Greater Boston Food Bank survey found that only one in three adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts is getting food from charitable sites, like food pantries. (Adobe Stock)

High Demand for Food Assistance Persists in MA

BOSTON -As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and the country opens up, some Massachusetts residents are still feeling the ripple effects of the …

A Feeding America study estimates 42 million Americans may experience food insecurity this year, down from 45 million people who may have experienced it in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

World Hunger Day Underscores CT Food Crisis Beyond COVID

WALLINGFORD, Conn. - Today is World Hunger Day, and as the U.S. recovers from the pandemic, food banks in places like Connecticut say there's greater …

Julie Manuel, left, was the winner of the 2020 Andrus Award in Oregon. (Joyce DeMonnin/AARP Oregon)

Award to Honor OR Volunteer During 'Difficult Times'

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The call is out for Oregonians who are making a difference in their communities through volunteering. AARP has opened nominations …

Seniors experiencing social isolation are at increased risk of dementia, depression, acute and chronic illness, and pre-mature death.(Adobe Stock)

Report: More WV Seniors Isolated; Face Poverty, Lack of Support

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new America's Health Rankings report shows West Virginia is among the top three states in the nation with the highest number …

The smoking rate for Texans older than age 65 climbed from 6.7% to 10.9% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new report. (thomaasheise/Pixabay)<br /> — The smoking rate for Texans older than age 65 climbed from 6.7% to 10.9% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new report. (thomaasheise/Pixabay)

Older Texans Say They're Exercising, But Also Smoking More

AUSTIN, Texas - Many folks have acknowledged dealing with more anxiety since the pandemic hit. But even before that, seniors were experiencing …

Arkansas has the 14th highest rate of reported falls in the United States in adults age 65 and older, at 29.5%, higher than the national average of 28%, according to CDC data. (Adobe Stock)

CDC Report: Arkansas has 14th Highest Rate of Older-Adult Falls

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Falls are the leading cause of death among individuals age 65 and older, and new data from the Centers for Disease Control and …

A new report shows that Nevada seniors are 16th in the nation for getting in some exercise. (AARP)

Report: NV Seniors Face High Rates of Hunger, Suicide

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- A new study shows seniors in Nevada had some of the worst rates of hunger and suicide in the country, even before the pandemic…

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