Advocacy

The latest release of AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard depicts a worsening crisis from coast to coast, including Minnesota. In the four-week period ending December 20, 62.2% of nursing homes in Minnesota reported residents with confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 92.4% with at least one staff member diagnosed.

New AARP Public Policy Institute paper outlines recommendations for long-term care quality improvements 

AARP leaders nationwide will meet remotely with Senate, House offices, as COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes reach nearly 100,000

AARP Minnesota is pushing state lawmakers to address nursing home residents’ need for socialization, among other long-term care reforms, when they return next month for the 2021 legislative session. 

In-person visits in jeopardy for many as holidays approach.

AARP Minnesota released a series of videos featuring former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page as part of “Protect Voters 50+,” a comprehensive voter engagement campaign to support and protect Minnesotans age 50-plus as they vote in the 2020 elections. The videos were being released as Minnesotans began early voting with new rules around absentee balloting; and on the heels of a national release of bipartisan battle ground polls by AARP showing that voters in key states age 65-plus will once again be a deciding factor in this year’s election and, even as there are strong partisan preferences, Social Security and Medicare are unifying issues for voters 50-plus.

To help residents stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, AARP Minnesota and state officials are urging older voters to request and complete absentee ballots in plenty of time to be counted on Nov. 3, Election Day.

When it comes to ensuring that our parents are receiving the care they need—and deserve—especially during the coronavirus pandemic, Karen Ouren has learned a thing or two about how to be an effective advocate.

Special Session Likely in June

The pictures, maybe you’ve seen them. Sons and daughters, moms and dads, husbands and wives – separated by a glass window. This is how some family members are visiting loved ones living in Minnesota’s nursing home and assisted living facilities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. And as heartbreaking as these pictures are, worse are the stories of people dying alone and of goodbyes not said.