Advocacy

On behalf of AARP Florida’s 2.8 million members and all older Floridians, we encourage AHCA to find creative ways to enhance, expand, or strengthen home- and community-based care under Florida’s Medicaid program. With so many families in need of help with care, now is the time to take advantage of these new federal resources, which can supplement existing state efforts around home- and community-based services.

By signing this bill into law, Governor DeSantis is sending a troubling message to older Floridians and their families. This new law will allow nursing homes to hire lesser trained, lesser paid workers in these facilities, entrusting these workers with the care of our most vulnerable citizens.

The latest release of AARP's Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard shows that the percentage of Florida nursing homes reporting new resident cases of COVID-19 continues to rise, up from 14% to 19% in the four weeks ending May 16, 2021. The new report from AARP marks one year of tracking nursing home data related to COVID-19 through the AARP Nursing Home Dashboard.

The latest release of AARP's Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard shows that Florida is trending higher than the national average for new reported cases of COVID-19.

AARP Florida today issued a consumer alert highlighting positive legislative changes that AARP advocated for during Florida’s 2021 Legislative Session.

Florida’s nursing homes will now be able to hire lesser trained, lesser paid Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) in place of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), allowing them to cut costs at the expense of resident health and safety. They should be ashamed of this latest assault on their most vulnerable residents and CNA healthcare heroes

The latest release of AARP's Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard shows that both cases and deaths in Florida nursing homes declined substantially in the four weeks ending March 21, falling to their lowest levels since AARP began releasing this information in June 2020.

Tell your State Senator and State House of Representative member to protect nursing home residents by voting ‘No’ on SB 1132/HB 485.

While opening up eligibility is a positive and much-needed step in this process, AARP believes that now is the time to double down on efforts to reach vaccine seekers who face technology and/or mobility challenges. For this vaccination effort to succeed, no willing vaccine seeker can be left behind or forgotten.

AARP Florida is encouraged by Sen. Bean’s remarks today to members of the Senate Health Policy Committee regarding his intention to continue listening to stakeholders and working together to address AARP’s concerns with SB 1132.