Caregiving

AARP’s purpose is to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Many policy changes enacted this legislative session will help Connecticut residents do just that.

AARP Connecticut today announced the addition of Natalie Shurtleff as Associate State Director, Advocacy and Community Outreach. Shurtleff will be responsible for developing and executing state, federal, and local advocacy activities on behalf of the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization’s nearly 600,000 members in Connecticut. She will have a particular focus areas involving livable communities, health care, and long-term services and supports issues.

AARP Connecticut – advocates for age 50+ Connecticut residents and their families – works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to support legislation and issues that make our state a great place to live for people of all ages.

The emotional and economic toll of caregiving can be overwhelming. In the 2024 legislative session, AARP Connecticut will push to allow workers to use paid sick days for caregiving, expand the number of businesses required to offer paid sick days and establish a state tax credit for family caregivers.

While some nursing homes offer quality care, others reap profit while neglecting patient needs, says Rep. Jane Garibay (D-Windsor). That will change under a new state law designed to increase transparency around nursing home ownership.

AARP’s purpose is to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Many policy changes enacted this legislative session will help Connecticut residents do just that.

Latest AARP research attaches $18.43 value to the estimated 390 million hours of unpaid care that family caregivers provided in 2021

Lawmakers are hearing several pieces of legislation related to nursing homes and long-term care at a joint public hearing of the Aging Committee and Human Services Committee in Hartford today. Advocates from AARP Connecticut, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid and New Haven Legal Assistance, the Connecticut Statewide Family Council, the Statewide Coalition of Presidents of Residents Councils, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, and 1199 SEIU joined lawmakers to express their united support for proposals that would improve staffing levels, accountability, and financial transparency.

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan provided the following statement in response to the biennial budget Governor Lamont proposed today:

AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age, and an important part of choosing how we live as we age is being able to choose where we live as we age. Most older adults want to remain in their own home and community as they age, but financial barriers and limited service options can make this difficult. We were pleased that the Connecticut legislature passed a state budget and several pieces of legislation that will support older adults who wish to age in place.