Health & Wellbeing

If you have the time and passion to make an impact on the lives of people across our state, then AARP Mississippi has the perfect opportunity for you!

AARP Mississippi is at the State Capitol this year working to make life a little easier for caregivers and all Mississippians. Our top priorities for the 2016 Mississippi Legislative session are:

(Jackson, MS) – To recognize their work to support family caregivers in Mississippi, AARP names Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, Sen. Terry C. Burton, Rep. Sam C. Mims, V, and Rep. Toby Barker as 2015 “Capitol Caregivers,” a bipartisan group of state legislators, lieutenant governors, and governors from 25 states. These elected officials have advanced policies to help family caregivers who are making it possible for older Mississippians to live independently at home—where they want to be.

Ten years ago the eye of Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast leaving a path of devastation and destruction. After Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, Waveland, Bay St. Louis and the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast were changed forever.

New report reveals stress on family caregivers’ health and finances; identifies policies to help support caregivers

New law helps 800,000 Mississippi family caregivers and their loved ones

Jackson, MS – (April 2, 2015) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program, awarded AARP Foundation a grant of $3.3 million, with an additional $1 million coming from UnitedHealthcare, to implement a multi-year $6.6 million incentive program in Mississippi and Tennessee to increase the purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The goal of this program is to increase the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables and to improve nutrition and health outcomes for low-income consumers.

(Jackson, MS) – AARP Mississippi thanks all members of the Mississippi House and Senate for unanimously passing The Caregiver Act (SB 2108) today. The Caregiver Act will help 800,000 Mississippi family caregivers who are taking care of loved ones. The bill now goes to Governor Bryant to sign.

In Mississippi, thousands of family caregivers take care of their loved ones at home. When parents, spouses, or other loved ones go into the hospital, family caregivers can feel confused, rushed, left out, or unprepared to provide the best care when they return home. The Caregiver Act (SB 2108) is a commonsense solution that can make an incredible difference for 800,000 Mississippi residents who serve as caregivers at any time during the year. Family caregivers help their loved ones live independently at home – keeping them out of costly institutions, such as nursing homes.

(This story is by Margie Culbertson, an AARP Mississippi volunteer and freelance writer. Her photo is on the left.)