Advocacy

You wouldn’t know it from most the news coverage. But voters really do want presidential candidates to lay out their plans to keep Social Security financially sound for future generations.

AARP and a team of supporters spent January 27, 2016 at Legislative Hall in Dover advocating for better support for caregivers. The group met with legislators including CARE Act sponsors Senator Bethany Hall-Long and House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst. The group provided valuable information on the CARE Act, which will help make it possible for older Delawareans and other loved ones to live at home and in their own communities – which is where they want to be.

AARP recognizes the unpaid family caregivers who help their loved ones remain in their own homes and communities. There are more than 120,000 in Delaware – who help older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home, where they want to be. The unpaid care they provide – managing medications, cooking meals, driving to appointments, performing complex medical tasks and more – is valued at about $1.58 billion in Delaware alone.

Senate Bills 57 and 101 passed the Senate during the 2015 legislative session in Delaware. The two bills, both pertaining to Nursing Scope of Practice, were signed by Governor Markell on September 1st. AARP commends these two bills because they improve access to care and expand consumer choice.

Delaware testified before the Joint Finance Committee on Feb. 26 to express concerns with Governor Markell’s proposal to reduce by half the existing $500 property tax subsidy currently afforded to Delaware seniors, age 65 and older. AARP strongly believes that all individuals have the right to be self-reliant and live with dignity in retirement.

If you are a Delaware caregiver, the Family Caregiving Task Force wants to hear from you.

Delaware ranks 29th when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents, but AARP cautions more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to improve an individual’s choice of setting where they receive long term care. Delaware ranked toward the bottom in this area. Delaware also ranks in the bottom for Medicaid spending for community care. Despite increased Medicaid support for in-home care, Delaware still ranks 48th among all states. These findings are from a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and SCAN Foundation.

In Delaware, from 2003 – 2012, 194 people were killed while walking. A new report, Dangerous by Design, Delaware 2014 ranks Delaware by major city and counties according to a Pedestrian Danger Index that assesses how safe pedestrians are while walking. In addition, the report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. metro area. The report found that the majority of those deaths likely could have been prevented with better street design.

In the City of Wilmington, bus service is fairly accessible to most. In Kent and Sussex Counties, using buses as a means of getting to doctor’s appointments or to shop for food requires careful planning days in advance. If you don’t drive, you don’t get around Delaware very well. Considering that the 50+ population in the state is growing rapidly, transportation for those who may not be able to drive or may have limited driving ability is a problem that needs to be addressed.

On May 21, in the midst of Older Americans Month, AARP Delaware 's State Director and top volunteer visited Capitol Hill to urge Rep. Carney and Sens. Coons and Carper to back bills, including the Older Americans Act, that can help Americans live their best lives.