AARP NC is working to make life after 50 fulfilling, healthy and financially secure

RALEIGH -- To address the growing anxiety people in the state are feeling from their worries about adequate retirement savings and the challenges of family caregiving, AARP North Carolina released its priorities for 2015 and beyond.

AARP North Carolina State Director Doug Dickerson said, “Most people simply don’t have the savings they need to pay for their ‘golden years’ anymore. People are increasingly reliant on Social Security as their only income when they’re older. We can turn that trend upside down if the legislature allows new workplace savings programs to be set up for small businesses just as most large businesses already have.”

AARP North Carolina President Robert Palombo of Southern Shores added, “Paying for our increased life expectancy with today’s average personal savings of about $25,000 won’t cover much. Social Security is vital, but so too are savings, and for a growing number, work or a continued source of earnings is necessary. Today, two million working North Carolinians don’t have a simple way to save even the smallest portion of their paychecks. We need more savings options that people find simple to use.”

AARP is working with members of the General Assembly, the small business community and others to propose a voluntary workplace savings plan for those without access to employer-provided retirement savings plans.

“Increasing the retirement security of those without an easy way to save through work will help decrease future dependency on public programs, and will help our local economies if older North Carolinians have adequate income,” said AARP Executive Council Member Dennis Hoadley of Cary.

AARP Executive Council Member Helen Mack of Winston-Salem said continued earnings are important to a growing number of North Carolinians. “Today many are working longer than before and many in their 50s, 60s and 70s are going back to work. Through AARP’s Life Reimagined, we’re helping older workers and entrepreneurs succeed by providing solid job information and resources, staying connected, and finding meaningful employment.

Additionally, AARP wants to end age discrimination in the workplace. AARP is urging Congress to pass the Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act which would restore the same protections that make it illegal to discriminate based on race, sex and other factors,” Mack explained.

AARP is also working on the federal level to strengthen and preserve Social Security and Medicare programs that protect the middle class and have kept millions out of poverty for generations.

Wilmington resident and AARP North Carolina Executive Council Member Cheryll Schramm said, “Along with financial concerns come the stresses, challenges, or satisfaction of caregiving. Today’s average caregiver is a 49 year-old woman, often balancing the care she provides with a job and the needs of her own family. She may be doing this with little, if any, assistance. AARP is raising awareness about the support family caregivers require.”

Those who balance caregiving and jobs face extra challenges. A 2014 AARP North Carolina survey found that more than 75 percent of past and present caregivers had to make adjustments to work schedules to carry out their caregiving responsibilities. 15% reported they had to give up work entirely to care for relatives.

“Leave the workforce or cut back hours? These tough decisions caregivers sometimes face which can result in loss of income and Social Security earnings as well as employment benefits such as health insurance and contributions to retirement plans.  Employers also pay more with the increased costs related to recruiting and training new employees when someone leaves the workforce,” Schramm added.

AARP will be seeking state legislation that will allow employees to use their existing sick leave benefits for caregiving purposes, as well as short increments of unpaid leave to tend to a family member’s illness, injury, or medical appointment.

AARP is also working to help patients and families receive the kind of long term care people want. North Carolina Executive Council Member Ed Olivares of Charlotte said, state and national research has shown a great preference for aging-in place, that is, staying at home as long as possible. “AARP is working to increase support for the services that promote independent living and help family caregivers. Funding for these programs has been cut while waiting lists grow.”

AARP Executive Council Member Henrietta Coursey of Wake Forrest said, “AARP is asking for increased funding for the respite care services that provide short periods of relief for family members from their on-going caregiving tasks. It is also calling for more support for services such as home-delivered meals and in-home health aides that help keep people living independently in their homes.”

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