Advocacy

The eightWest daily talk show for women on WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids featured a segment June 29 on the CARE Act, a new law that helps family caregivers when their loved ones are admitted to the hospital.

Lead volunteer and staff from Michigan headed to Washington this week to advocate on behalf of AARP members and all older Americans on the crucial issues of Family Caregiving and Social Security.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Michigan CARE Act on April 13, providing help to an unpaid silent army about 2 million strong who make it possible for older Michiganders to live independently at home.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a new AARP survey released today, 8 in 10 say that taking a stand on Social Security is a basic threshold for Presidential leadership. The survey of likely voters age 50+ also shows nearly 40% are dissatisfied with their retirement savings and nearly half of voters worry they won’t be able to achieve their financial goals over the next five years (49%). 4 in 10 (40%) still don’t know for certain which party’s presidential candidate they’ll choose in the 2016 general election.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond praised the announcement of a final rule by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that updates requirements for providing financial advice to individual retirement plan savers. Americans saving for retirement currently lose an estimated 6 to 17 billion dollars per year due to bad investment advice. Many advisers already abide by the higher standard.

Legislation supporting Michigan’s 2 million family caregivers won bipartisan passage in the state House today and heads to the governor's desk.

Senate Bill 352, the Michigan CARE Act, is expected to be up for a vote on the state House floor today.

A bill intended to provide much-needed help to family caregivers won passage in House committee today.

By John Hishta, AARP

They came for scrambled eggs, bacon and bagels and they came away with a better understanding of AARP Michigan's legislative agenda for this year.