— By Mac McLean Don Bruland likes living in Medford because it has a warmer climate than much of the state, it’s close to excellent medical facilities, and the Shakespeare Festival in nearby Ashland presents him with an abundance of activities that keep him busy and engaged. But as much as Bruland, 72, enjoys the southern Oregon community he’s called home for the past 40 years, “I’m wondering what will happen if and when I’m unable to drive.” Nearly 90 percent …
— By Dana E. Neuts Last year, Lucia Bodenheimer’s husband was diagnosed with the early stages of dementia. A friend referred her to Elder Services, part of the statewide Family Caregiver Support Program. Bodenheimer, 78, of Spokane, now attends twice-monthly meetings to discuss concerns and get support from fellow caregivers. “I found myself in a situation I knew nothing about,” she said. “I felt like I was drowning and I needed a life jacket. This supplied that life jacket with a …
— By Michelle Crouch Douglas Sherrow, a severely disabled Army veteran in Mint Hill, struggles to make ends meet on his military pension and Social Security. He and his wife are raising two grandchildren, and he said they’ve racked up thousands in credit card debt over four years. “I’ve never been in the hole this far,” said Sherrow, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a walker. “Taxes keep going up, and my ability to pay them is going down.” Sherrow, 69, …
— The Latest on Health Care: What Mainers Need to Know After working behind closed doors yet again, Senate leadership was considering a vote on a new health care bill this week in a last-ditch attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill was known simply as Graham-Cassidy, named for Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) who drafted it. By Monday, September 25, three Republican Senators, including Maine Senator Susan Collins, had publicly voiced their opposition to …
— A new analysis of the Senate’s proposed health care bill shows that older Nebraskans would be forced to pay much higher premiums or go without health insurance coverage. With the proposed spike in premiums and reduced tax credits, known as the age tax, a 60-year old Nebraskan with a $45,000 annual income could have to pay up to $21,740 in 2020. That’s the second highest amount in the nation for this age and income level after Arizona. The new analysis …
— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2017 CONTACT: AARP Media, 202-434-2560, media@aarp.org, @AARPMedia AARP Launches Campaign Urging Opposition to “Age Tax” Congressional Proposal Would Charge Older Americans Thousands of Dollars More for Health Insurance Washington, DC —AARP today launched a campaign against the “age tax,” a proposed unfair penalty on older adults that would line the pockets of big insurance companies, allowing them to charge older Americans over $3,000 more than they currently pay per year. .AARP launched a new series …
— New AARP survey finds most consumers age 50-plus believe prescription medications are too expensive Washington, DC – The vast majority (81%) of adults age 50-plus say prescription drug prices are too high and nearly 9 in 10 (87%) want politicians to support efforts to make them more affordable, according to a new AARP Public Policy Institute consumer survey. “This survey confirms what we expected: People want more affordable prescription drugs,” said AARP Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond. “The …
— This week AARP released an important survey on the economic value of family caregivers. Family caregivers in North Carolina provided 1.19 billion hours of care—worth an estimated $13.4 billion—to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013, according to AARP Public Policy Institute’s new report, Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update. The findings underscore the need for greater support for family caregivers who contribute not only to patient health, but to lowering the overall cost of care. “With …
— Family caregivers in Nebraska provided 182 million hours of care—worth an estimated $2.5 billion—to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013, according to AARP Public Policy Institute’s new report, Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update. The total estimated economic value of uncompensated care provided by the nation’s family caregivers surpassed total Medicaid spending ($449 billion), and nearly equaled the annual sales ($469 billion) of the four largest U.S. tech companies combined (Apple, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Microsoft) …
— How livable is your city, town or neighborhood? Will it continue to have everything you need to live comfortably and remain independent as you age? AARP’s Public Policy Institute set out to help individuals answer those questions when they developed the new AARP Livability Index. The online tool is a first of its kind resource that allows individuals to determine how well their communities are meeting their current and future needs. Anyone can use the tool, including residents, policy makers …