Advocacy

AARP today listed Virginia, Minnesota’s Southside neighborhood as one of the top 10 most livable neighborhoods in the nation. The list was part of the unveiling of AARP’s Livability Index, a first of its kind resource that allows people to determine how well their communities are meeting their current and future needs. People, policy makers and the private sector can use the Livability Index to measure how their location – down to the neighborhood level – rates across a comprehensive range of metrics that reflect the resident experience.

Happy National Volunteer Week! AARP is incredibly grateful for all of our volunteers who dedicate their time and enthusiasm to our programs. Our volunteers come from all over the state of Minnesota to help their communities receive the benefits and knowledge of AARP.

The legislature is considering multiple telecommunications proposals that could have a drastic impact on how nearly 2 million Minnesotans receive phone service. Senate File 736 and House File 1066 both seek to deregulate telecommunications companies in Minnesota, which would likely result in the loss of affordable, reliable phone service for seniors, low income families and those living in rural parts of the state.

Four Minnesota legislators were honored by AARP recently for their work to support Minnesota family caregivers in 2014.

The vast majority of older Americans want to live independently at home. In order to do so, they often rely exclusively on unpaid family caregivers for help. In Minnesota, more than 670,000 family caregivers are helping their loved ones live independently – keeping them in their homes and out of costly institutions, such as nursing homes. These unsung heroes provide unpaid care valued at about $8.2 billion annually.

Minnesota is only 1 of 7 States that tax Social Security Benefits. Minnesota should follow the lead of most states and Stop Taxing these Benefits.

You’re in a meeting with a coworker when her phone rings: Her elderly father has had a bad fall and is on the way to the emergency room. At the hospital, she discovers that her father will need to stay in the hospital. Four days later, her father is moved to a skilled rehabilitation care facility for several weeks of

ST. PAUL – With the 2015 legislative session underway, AARP’s focus will once again be to support Minnesota’s unpaid family caregivers as well as the more than one million people in our state who are struggling to save for retirement.

Congressional District Leaders will take on a variety of interesting projects in partnership with a fellow co-leader(s) to extend AARP’s network throughout all areas of the state. We anticipate that Co-Leaders will devote an average of 20 hours a month to this work, although some months will be busier or slower than others. It is possible for a volunteer to be a Co-Lead while also doing another volunteer position with AARP such as being a Fraud Fighter, Life Reimagined Guide or Driver Safety Instructor.

An excerpt from Christeen’s story: As a 94 year of age widow ,of five years, I have been a "receiver" from my daughter who as a single mom, did a wonderful job of raising three sons alone. My husband needed home care for several months, then had Home Hospice care for three weeks before he passed away. My daughter is a Home Health Nurse-Case Manager and supplied the help needed to keep him home. She now gives me the needed help to live in the home I bought 70 years ago, which makes it possible to be independent since she lives next door to me and has for 34 years.