Advocacy

We did it! State lawmakers today unanimously approved landmark legislation strengthening supports for Nebraska’s 200,000 family caregivers and their loved ones.

AARP Nebraska has several openings on its statewide advocacy volunteer team. Volunteers work on state and federal issues that are important to AARP members and older Nebraskans, such as caregiving, Social Security, home and community-based care options, transportation, aging services, healthcare, taxation, financial security and more.

It’s a promise that’s been kept for generations. You pay into Social Security, you get the benefits you earned. But to keep that promise for future generations, Social Security needs to be updated for the 21st century.

State Senator John McCollister of Omaha has introduced LB 1032, the Transitional Health Insurance Program Act. The bill will provide affordable healthcare coverage to tens of thousands of hard-working Nebraskans who don’t have insurance and can’t afford it.

A strong majority of Nebraska voters age 45 and over support paid time off for family caregiving responsibilities, according to a recent AARP survey.

AARP Nebraska has endorsed the Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights Act. LB 698, introduced by State Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, would spell out protections for Nebraskans who receive home care services to help them stay independent and reduce their need to move into a nursing home. The bill would apply to Nebraskans over the age of 60 and younger persons with disabilities.

Ensuring that Nebraska’s nearly 200,000 family caregivers know how to safely look after their loved ones when they’re discharged from the hospital tops the list of measures AARP will champion at the State Capitol during the 2016 legislative session.

At a Jan. 20 hearing before the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, AARP expressed support for a pair of bills that impact the financial security of older Nebraskans.

Nebraskans age 45-plus strongly support proposals to help family caregivers when their older parents, spouses or other loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home, according to a new AARP statewide survey of 800 registered voters.

To recognize their work in support of Nebraska’s family caregivers, AARP has named Gov. Pete Ricketts, and State Sens. Kate Bolz and Sue Crawford 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 Nebraskans to live independently at home – where they want to be.