AARP, the nation’s strongest voice for people age 50 and older, has endorsed legislation to help provide Nebraskans with the workplace flexibility they need to care for their loved ones without putting their jobs and finances in jeopardy.
On January 15, State Senators Sue Crawford and Machaela Cavanaugh introduced LB 311, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act. AARP strongly supports this measure to offer employed family caregivers paid leave from their jobs to care for their loved ones. Nearly two in three family caregivers in the workforce are caring for a relative age 65 or older. We believe that Nebraskans should be able to care for their family members without worrying about losing their income.
Lawmakers approved permanent Aging and Disability Resource Centers at locations across the state. These free one-stop sites for information, referral and assistance were first launched as a demonstration project in 2015 to connect older and disabled Nebraskans and family caregivers with the support and services they need. Such information can help people stay in their homes longer and avoid costly 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.