Advocating for what is important to our members and giving you a voice at the state and federal levels is a priority for AARP Minnesota. Your voice matters. We work with local organizations and town and city officials on making our communities more livable and greater places to age with dignity and purpose.
AARP is also advocating this year for the creation of a state restitution fund for Minnesota consumers who have lost money to scams. Money for a restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments in consumer fraud enforcement cases.
People are 20 times more likely to save for retirement if contributions are automatically deducted from their paychecks. Minnesota’s Secure Choice Retirement Program is a new state-sponsored plan designed to help small businesses offer employees an easy way to save for their future. Set to launch after January 2025, Secure Choice is:
This year, at the state level, we urge lawmakers to fight fraud, make aging a strategic priority in Minnesota, expand affordable housing options, and strengthen Assisted Living protections for residents living in facilities exempt under the law.
On Saturday, May 19, the Minnesota House and Senate passed legislation strengthening protections for older and vulnerable adults in long-term care residential facilities. Currently the only state to not license assisted living facilities, Minnesota's Department of Health receives approximately 400 cases of abuse and neglect every week. The bill passed earlier this week (HF90/SF8) seeks to address this critical problem.
This week, AARP and consumer advocates claimed victory after coming to consensus with the long-term care industry on a bill to prevent elder abuse. More than two years ago, a Star Tribune series, Left to Suffer, unveiled a broken regulatory system that left many older and vulnerable adults at risk for abuse and neglect. Minnesota is the only state in the country that does not license assisted living facilities. Reports of elder abuse, uncovered more than 2 years ago, continue with the Minnesota Department of Health receiving approximately 400 cases of abuse and neglect every week.
This spring, AARP is again partnering with Pollen Midwest, an online community-building platform, to solicit nominations for the Minnesota 50 Over 50 list.
Right now, Americans are paying the highest prescription drug prices in the world - often double what other countries pay for the same medicine millions of people depend on. Too many Americans are choosing between filing a prescription or buying groceries.