Advocacy

AARP Connecticut has recently met virtually with federal lawmakers to urge more help for older Americans and their families as they face growing health and economic challenges due to the coronavirus crisis. Residents in nursing homes, those who are food-insecure, and people who have lost their jobs are particularly in need.

On April 30, 2020, AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan sent the letter below to Governor Ned Lamont strongly recommending immediate actions related to the August 11, 2020, and November 3, 2020, elections that will provide Connecticut’s older adults and those at most risk from COVID-19 access to voting while ensuring their health protection.

AARP is providing information and resources about COVID-19 to help older Connecticut residents, and their families protect themselves from the virus and prevent it from spreading to others.

On April 1, 2020, AARP Connecticut sent the letter below to Governor Ned Lamont strongly recommending immediate actions related to the rescheduled June 2, 2020, Connecticut Primary that will provide older adults and those at most risk from COVID-19 access to voting while ensuring their health protection.

AARP Connecticut has called on policy makers to take action to ensure the 22,000 nursing home residents in Connecticut and their loved ones can safely stay in contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, 2020, AARP Connecticut sent a letter to the state’s Governor and Commissioner of Public Health strongly recommending modifications to a March 13, 2020, Public Health Order banning visitors to nursing homes, including residents’ immediate family and caregivers. For example, requiring nursing homes to offer and facilitate virtual video visitation, as well as other enhanced communications, will help prevent social isolation, reduce anxiety, and promote safety, among other benefits. In addition, AARP Connecticut provided testimony to the Human Services Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly strongly recommending allowing passive video monitoring in nursing homes. AARP Connecticut followed this with an email to every member of the Connecticut General Assembly on March 23, 2020, asking that any legislative action in response to COVID-19 codify these recommendations.

Age discrimination has been illegal for more than 50 years, however a 2018 AARP survey of people age 45 and over show problems persist. More than 60% of respondents witnessed or experienced age discrimination in the workplace and nearly 45% of those who applied or interviewed for a job in the previous two years were asked age-related questions such as birth and graduation dates.

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan provided the following statement in regards to Governor Lamont’s State of the State Address and Senate Bill 1:

The full results of the report can be found online as well.

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan joined State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) and a bipartisan group of legislators, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, and additional advocates at a press conference yesterday to announce support for a bill that prohibits employers from asking the date of birth, or school attendance and graduation dates of job applicants, unless a age is a bona fide occupational qualification.

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan released the following statement today, applauding Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes and John Larson of the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.