Health & Wellbeing

Tallahassee, Fla. – AARP Florida Friday urged Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’s new administration to “rebalance” Florida’s Medicaid long-term care budget so frail older and disabled Floridians could get more help to remain in their homes and communities, rather than being cared for in institutions such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

AARP Florida Tuesday urged Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis to work with the Legislature to seek reversal of a state decision to shorten the time period for retroactive eligibility for Medicaid reimbursement from three months to the first day of the month when application is made.

By Michelle Cerulli McAdams

St. Petersburg, Fla. –Annette Bellingar has been selected to receive the 2018 AARP Florida Andrus Award for Community Service -- AARP’s most prestigious and visible state volunteer award for community service.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., -- To kick off November, Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and to help older Floridians recover from Hurricane Michael, AARP Florida is teaming up with the Alzheimer's Project to host the “Fill-A-Truck” event at the annual “Forget-Me-Not-Walk.” Alzheimer’s Project. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Cascades Park in downtown Tallahassee will kick off a day of events that will support North Floridians living with Alzheimer’s Disease and older Floridians affected by the hurricane.

With electricity, cell phone service and even landline communications knocked out or damaged in much of the eastern Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Michael, one major emerging need is for information about who needs help.

Medicare contributes $53.9 Billion to Florida's economy, equivalent to 32% of state and local government spending in the state, according to a new report from AARP.

By Tom Scherberger

In a joint AARP-POLITICO poll released today, Florida voters age 50 and over do not feel better off financially despite a growing economy. The poll also found that Social Security and health care will be very important to 50-plus voters when they cast ballots for Congress in the mid-term elections, and they are deeply concerned about the future of Medicare. 

Hurricane season starts in June, and AARP Florida is encouraging everyone to be prepared. Residents should consider whether their health would suffer without air conditioning or fresh water, and should have at least three days’ worth of supplies.