Advocacy

On Thursday, February 8, more than 125 volunteers and staff will be in Boise advocating on behalf of AARP members and all older Idahoans on the crucial issue of Family Caregiving. While meeting with members of the legislature, these volunteers and staff will ask lawmakers to support Senate Bill 1262, the Patient Caregiver Support Act.

AARP IDAHO TO HOST TELEPHONE TOWN HALL WITH IDAHO PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Boise, ID – In Idaho, more than 200,000 hardworking family caregivers are performing largely unnoticed but critical at-home medical services on family members and loved ones. Institutions and healthcare professional play a role in helping Idahoans live independently, but family caregivers in the Gem State are equally important by contributing an estimated $2 billion worth of unpaid care.

AARP Idaho is hosting its annual Lobby Day on Thursday, Feb. 8. AARP members can visit the Statehouse in Boise, watch lawmakers in action and show support for key issues, such as the Idaho Caregiver Act and access to telehealth. Participants will attend committee meetings and observe House and Senate action.

In the legislative session that begins Jan. 8, AARP Idaho is urging state lawmakers to pass the Idaho Family Caregiver Act, which would help caregivers confidently perform medical or nursing tasks when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay. The bill would let every hospital patient designate a family caregiver and would require hospitals to make reasonable efforts to show those caregivers how to perform follow-up care.

AARP Idaho has appointed Corrine Tafoya Fisher to their executive council – the highest state-level volunteer position within the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. AARP Idaho has more than 187,000 members statewide and more than 38 million members nationwide.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond reiterated AARP’s opposition to the health bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would harm American families who count on access to affordable health care:

The U.S. Senate is considering a measure to deny states the flexibility they need to set up retirement savings options if they so choose. House Joint Resolution 66 repeals an important Department of Labor rule providing guidance to states desiring to work with small business owners to set up retirement savings programs for their employees.

The 2017 Idaho Legislature has finally adjourned “sine die!” AARP Idaho was at the Capitol the last three months working on your behalf. Many of our members were working with us, both at the Capitol and from their computers, helping to get our voice heard.

AARP Idaho has been at the Idaho Capitol this week supporting some great measures to help the 50+.