Senior Issues / Public News Service

If passed, nearly 24,000 New Hampshire residents would save hundreds of dollars on average per year in healthcare costs, according to White House estimates. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Potential Savings for NH Seniors in Build Back Better Healthcare Reforms

CONCORD, N.H. -- The $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act heads to the U.S. Senate after passing the House last week. The bill attempts to lower …

One in four New York City SNAP redemptions happens at Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan. It's one of 80 GrowNYC food access sites in the city. (Michayla Savitt)

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Report: Pandemic SNAP Benefits Cut NY Food Insecurity in Half

NEW YORK - A new report shows far fewer New Yorkers have gone hungry since the federal government nearly doubled its spending in the pandemic on the S…

AARP recommends checking if your drug store is a preferred pharmacy under your chosen Medicare plan. It means you'll pay less for prescriptions there. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Tips for Picking Medicare Plan This Open-Enrollment Season

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Choosing the right Medicare plan can be confusing, and during the open-enrollment period, it is recommended Pennsylvanians take …

Of the 142,176 veterans living in Nebraska, only 33% have utilized their earned benefits at VA health care, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Navigator Aims to Streamline Access to Veteran Health Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and AARP has launched a free, one-stop online resource to help more …

A single person in New Hampshire can make up to $37,696 and still be eligible to receive fuel assistance for home heating. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

As Winter Moves In, Granite Staters Urged to Apply for Fuel Assistance

CONCORD, N.H. -- As cold weather moves in, Granite Staters are being urged to apply for fuel assistance, if they think they might need some help …

Currently, Medicare Part D does not have a hard cap on the amount people pay out-of-pocket for prescription drugs; the Build Back Better Act would change that. (Mensatic/Morguefile)

Older Nevadans Excited for "Build Back Better" Vote

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Groups that advocate for older Americans are pressing for passage of the Build Back Better Act, Build Back Better Act which is …

Unpaid family caregivers take on many common support roles, such as transportation to their love one's appointments, therapies and daily activities. (Adobe Stock)

WI Family Caregivers Have Helpline Support into 2022

MADISON, Wis. - November is National Family Caregivers Month, and Wisconsin residents are being reminded about an extra resource they can lean on as …

If you find your rates for a third-party utility provider is skyrocketing, AARP Maryland recommends canceling it and turning to regulated utility suppliers. (Adobe stock)<br /> — If you find your rates for a third-party utility provider is skyrocketing, AARP Maryland recommends canceling it and turning to regulated utility suppliers. (Adobe stock)

New Tool Helps Monitor MD Third-Party Utility Bills

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - About 60 million American households get their energy from third-party suppliers, and a new online toolkit helps these consumers …

This week's interactive "Conference on Aging" in New Mexico includes prizes for poetry, recipes and photo submissions. (BruceEmmerling/Pixabay)

NM Conference Urges Seniors to “Adapt, Overcome & Thrive”

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Forced isolation from the pandemic has made it hard for seniors' voices to be heard in the past couple years, and New Mexico's …

A session at the Vital Aging Conference will explore traveling tips for older Oregonians. (pikselstock/Adobe Stock)

OR Vital Aging Conference Helps Folks Live Vigorous Life

PORTLAND, Ore. -- This week, a conference is helping people live with intention as they get older. The 10th annual Oregon Vital Aging Conference …

About 83% of Ohio nursing-home residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (AdobeStock)

COVID Vaccine Booster: Questions for Nursing Facilities

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As the Food and Drug Administration works to expand eligibility for the COVID-19 booster shot, AARP Ohio is working to eliminate any …

According to a new AARP report, rural New Yorkers are more likely than urban residents to die prematurely from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Older, Rural New Yorkers Need Greater Healthcare Access

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new report showed rural New Yorkers face disparities in access to healthcare, and advocates for older residents said it underscores …

Compassion and Choices has a "Dementia Values and Priorities" toolkit that can help folks start conversations about their wishes for their care. (Windy Night/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge End-of-Life Planning During Alzheimer's Awareness Month

CHICAGO -- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in Illinois, and groups advocating for end-of-life planning say now is the time to …

At nearly 1.5 million, Texas has the second-highest population of veterans in the country. (27707/Pixabay)

Veterans, Military Families Acquire Easier Access to Health Care

AUSTIN, Texas -- Newly returned veterans or even those who've been back for years face obstacles, and a big one is how to pick the best health care…

This year's Andrus Award recipient in Indiana helps with AARP's Driver Safety program. (and.one/Adobe Stock)

Group Spotlights Community Service Contributions in the Hoosier State

INDIANAPOLIS -- As we enter the holiday season, groups are spotlighting community service and the value it brings for both volunteers and the people …

Hospice teams provide medical care and pain management, and they give family caregivers a break by helping with showering and other daily activities. (Adobe Stock)

November Spotlights Benefits of Hospice and Palliative Care

TABERNASH, Colo. -- November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and advocates hope all Coloradans will consider these under-utilized …

For the Livable Communities grant, AARP Connecticut prioritized funding projects that enhance affordable-housing options for people age 50 and older and create safe public spaces for older adults as well. (Adobe Stock)

AARP CT Grants Support Enhancing Outdoor Rec, Community Spaces

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The latest round of an AARP Connecticut program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to organizations and municipalities improving …

Analysts say if Congress were to pass an automatic IRA requirement, more than 55 million workers would have an opportunity to save for retirement. (Adobe Stock)

Survey Shows Cross-Generational Concerns about Retirement Savings

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - A new survey underscores calls for laws to make it easier for people to accumulate savings, and Minnesota voices hope to spark …

Americans pay at least three times more than residents of other developed nations for the exact same prescription drugs. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Members Call on Congress to Rein In Big Pharma

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill late Friday, AARP is calling on lawmakers to pass …

An AARP report finds that stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one or a job loss, can leave seniors more vulnerable to scams. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Study: Stress Makes Seniors More Vulnerable to Scam Artists

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Scams are never a good thing to be involved with, but new research shows that people undergoing stressful events in their lives are …

A recent survey found about one in six Americans lost money to a scam in the past year. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Report: Life Stress Can Lead to Fraud Susceptibility

SEATTLE - Scammers have upped their game during the pandemic. New research looks into who is most susceptible to falling victim to fraud. AARP …

Across the nation, family caregivers provide $470 billion in unpaid care each year so loved ones can live independently in their homes, according to AARP research. (Adobe Stock)

On Election Day Eve, Virginia Voters Want Family Caregiver Relief

RICHMOND, Va. -- As the Virginia governor's race comes down to the wire tomorrow, a new survey showed a majority of the state's voters would favor a …

Veteran service organizations can assist military veterans with their claims to, among other benefits, access VA health-care services. (Adobe Stock)

Resource Navigator Helps NH Veterans Access VA Health Benefits

CONCORD, N.H. -- More than 113,000 military veterans live in New Hampshire, but fewer than a quarter of them have enrolled in Veterans Affairs (VA) …

AARP is calling on lawmakers to increase access to less expensive generic drugs, and cap out-of-pocket costs for people living on fixed incomes. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Urged to Act on Rising Drug Prices

DENVER - The average price for specialty prescription drugs - medicines used to treat complex, chronic conditions - rose to more than $84,000 in 2020…

One vial of insulin to manage diabetes can cost as much as $300 without health insurance. (AdobeStock)

Budget Reconciliation Plan Could Lower Rx Prices for Ohioans

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Congress has an opportunity to help lower prescription-drug costs for Ohioans, who, along with other Americans pay roughly three …

More than 74% of military veterans living in Kentucky are over age 50, according to data from AARP. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Tool Helps Veterans Navigate Benefits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A new tool from AARP is designed to help veterans navigate the complex system of figuring out which benefits they may qualify for…

From 2015 to 2020, the price of the brand name drug Victoza, which treats diabetes, increased from $7,936 a year to $11,300 a year in New York. (Adobe Stock)

AARP-NY to Congress: Let Medicare Negotiate Prescription Prices

ALBANY, N.Y. -- AARP is among the groups urging Congress to pass a proposal to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription costs with drug …

Members of the Schenectady Coalition for Healthcare Access are concerned about the impacts, both on reproductive health care and end-of-life care in their community, if Ellis Medicine merges with a Catholic health system. (Adobe Stock)

Upstate NY Hospital Merger Could Impact End-of-Life Care Options

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- A proposed merger between two hospital systems in upstate New York has some residents and health-care advocates concerned about …

Ballot collection for absentee voters can be an important service in Montana because weather can be hard to navigate at election time. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Ballot Collection Law Could Affect Older Montanans' Ability to Vote

HELENA, Mont. -- A new law in Montana, which its backers said was designed to cut down on fraud, could instead make it more difficult for some …

The U.S. Postal Service is responsible for delivering Social Security and veterans benefit checks, prescription medicines and more to all Americans regardless of where they live. (Adobe Stock)

Postal Service Cost-Cutting Measures Worry Nebraska Business Owners

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Small-business owners in Nebraska are concerned about losing customers during the upcoming holiday season as the U.S. Postal …

AARP's Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator is a one-stop resource that veterans and their caregivers can use to better understand their health-care options. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Creates New Tool to Make Accessing Health Benefits Easier for Vets

HARTFORD, Conn. -- There are more than 200,000 military veterans in Connecticut, and a new tool aims to make it easier for them to access health care …

Between mid-August and mid-September, there were more than 160 new COVID-19 infections among Wisconsin nursing-home residents. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Ravages WI Nursing Homes, Again

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is seeing similar COVID-19 patterns in long-term care facilities compared to fall of last year. Advocates for the state's …

More than 80% of Virginia voters say nursing homes should be required to provide infection-control training for staff, according to a new AARP survey. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Virginia Voters Demand Nursing-Home Reforms

RICHMOND, Va. - With COVID revealing deep-seated problems in the nation's long-term care system, a new report shows most Virginia voters support …

As of 2021, medical aid in dying is an option for terminally ill adults in 10 states and Washington, D.C. (Adobe Stock)

Poll Shows Voter Support for NY Aid-in-Dying Act

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new survey shows most New Yorkers approve of medical aid-in-dying legislation, and advocates for end-of-life autonomy said it is …

Along with older people, vaccine booster shots are recommended for workers such as health professionals and grocery store workers. (wachiwit/Adobe Stock)

Boosting Booster Shots: State's COVID Response and Recovery Unit

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Recommendations have been released for some people to get booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccine. Oregon is following the FDA and …

Forty-five percent of Washingtonians surveyed said they are "not very" or "not at all" confident they could pay for long-term care services if needed. (asnidamarwani/Adobe Stock)

WA Cares Survey: The More They Learn, the More They Like

SEATTLE - A new survey finds support for the first-of-its-kind long-term care program set up by Washington state. Under the WA Cares Fund, …

More than 40% of nursing-home respondents said they have 21 or more job openings within their facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: PA Long-Term Care Industry in Crisis

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Amid staffing shortages at Pennsylvania's long-term care facilities, there are growing fears many vulnerable older adults and …

Curtis "Gunny" Jones, left, and Sanjay Srivastava have won top honors from AARP Maryland for their exceptional community service this past year. (AARP Maryland)

MD Seniors Honored for Aiding Vets, Nourishing Hungry

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two Maryland men have received AARP Maryland's highest honors for folks age 50 and older for giving back to their communities…

More than 133,000 North Dakotans are currently enrolled in Medicare. (Adobe Stock)

Kicking the Tires on Your Medicare Plan

BISMARCK, N.D. -- Older North Dakotans are being bombarded with reminders about Medicare enrollment. While it is tempting to block out some messaging…

Chris Davis passed in 2019 and was not able to access medical-aid-in-dying in time. A new law will remove roadblocks for other patients. (Amanda Villegas)

Medical Aid-in-Dying to Be More Accessible in CA

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Mentally capable, terminally ill patients with less than six months to live will now have much easier access to medical aid-in-…

Starting this year, Medicare coverage plans participating in the program's Senior Savings Model must now offer insulin for no more than $35 per month. (Adobe Stock)

How to Keep Medicare Coverage, Avoid Scammers During Open Enrollment

LINCOLN, Neb. -- With open enrollment for Medicare set to kick off next week, Nebraskans age 65 and older can expect to see a deluge of ads for so-…

While Idaho is one of the least-vaccinated states in the country, almost 79% of residents age 65 and older are fully vaccinated. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call to End "Age Discrimination" in ID Care Rationing

BOISE, Idaho - Idaho hospitals are rationing care because of the strain from the pandemic. Some groups are questioning the use of age as one of the …

Virginia has the fourth-highest student-loan debt per borrower in the nation, totaling almost $39,000. (Adobe stock)

Report: Sinking Under Student Debt, VA Voters Ask Candidates for Relief

RICHMOND, Va. -- With the Virginia governor's race neck and neck, advocates are urging candidates to address easing the burden of student debt after …

Research has shown the average older American takes four to five prescription drugs each month. (Adobe Stock)

Analysis: WI Residents Priced Out of Prescription Drug Market

MADISON, Wis. - Prescription drug costs are climbing faster than wages for the average Wisconsin resident. That's according to a new analysis…

In an AARP poll, 70% of respondents said finding solutions to lower drug prices this year is very important. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Groups Seek Medicare Negotiations, Cap on Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs

CONCORD, N.H. -- Prescription drugs in the U.S. cost more than 2.5 times more than those in other countries, and groups such as AARP are urging …

With census data showing a more diverse population in Minnesota, advocates say it's important to adopt policies that meet the needs of growing racial groups, including older residents. (Adobe Stock)

Setting Fair Policies for Older BIPOC Minnesotans

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The challenges facing older Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Minnesotans will be the focal point of a virtual forum tomorrow…

An AARP study shows the high cost of prescription drugs often forces American seniors to choose between paying for their prescriptions or buying food or paying bills. (pitipat/Adobe Stock)

AARP: Arizona Seniors Need Medicare to Negotiate Drug Costs

PHOENIX, Ariz. - With the cost of prescription drugs growing 69% faster than the average Arizona resident's income, the AARP and others are pushing …

According to the World Health Organization, about one in six people age 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year. (Adobe Stock)

AARP: Most Iowans Support Tougher Elder-Abuse Law

DES MOINES, Iowa -- There is strong public support in Iowa to enact a state law that criminalizes elder abuse, a topic also being discussed by law …

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