Advocacy

By Dave Holmquist, AARP Nebraska State President

Today, in Nebraska more than 300,000 people over 65 and individuals with disabilities are covered by Medicare for their health care.

Under a new law that takes effect July 19, registered nurses on staff at assisted living facilities can now use their judgment to alter procedures to meet residents’ temporary or intermittent needs.

Nearly 200,000 Nebraskans care for older parents, spouses, children and adults with disabilities, or other loved ones, helping them to live independently in their homes and communities, where they want to be.

AARP scored several important wins for 50-plus Nebraskans in the fiscally challenging 2018 legislative session. Listed below are the top priority bills that we supported and actively worked to pass on behalf of our members, their families and caregivers.

Rosalee Yeaworth knows a thing or two about completing a marathon.

On April 25, AARP Nebraska leaders and volunteers visited Capitol Hill to urge their elected representatives to make permanent the 7.5 percent medical expense tax deduction threshold, protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and support family caregivers by joining the Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus.

State lawmakers are considering a bill to create permanent Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) in Nebraska. These centers provide one-stop shopping for information about public and private resources that can help people who are 60-plus or who have disabilities continue to live in their homes and communities.

We need you! Help make a difference in the lives of older Nebraskans and their families. AARP Nebraska works on issues important to our members such as caregiving, long-term care, Social Security, taxes, health care, prescription drug costs and more.

Ensuring that Nebraska’s rapidly growing 65-plus population is able to find the right care at the right time is a key part of preparing for the state’s future, an AARP spokesperson told the Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 7.