Advocacy

For the first time since AARP began publishing the Scorecard in 2011, more than half of Medicaid long-term care dollars nationwide for older adults and people with physical disabilities went to home- and community-based services instead of nursing homes and other institution.

En Español | AARP in The Virgin Islands met with members of the Culture, Aging, Sports, Parks, and Youth Committee of the 35th Legislature of the Virgin Islands and other aging advocates yesterday, September 7, 2023, to discuss recommendations presented by AARP-VI to combat elder abuse and specifically to strengthen the anti-elder abuse law, 34 V.I.C., Act No. 8318, Elder & Dependent Adult Abuse Prevention Act of 2020. This meeting is one subsequent to a first in March 2023, composed of a working group that included US Virgin Islands government agencies, the private sector, and the community at large.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. in February signed a bill to help boost the U.S. Virgin Islands’ agricultural sector — a measure supported by AARP. The bill devotes $2.2 million for the adoption of various portions of the Virgin Islands Agricultural Plan, which was unveiled in 2022 and is aimed at strengthening sustainable, community-based local food and farming businesses.

AARP in The Virgin Islands advocated for funding of the Plan

Español | AARP in The Virgin Islands hit four home runs with the signing of four (4) significant pieces of legislation this month.

Español | A notary’s responsibility is to evaluate and scrutinize the authenticity of important documents by witnessing the willingness of signers and ensuring their awareness of documentation. These documents include but are not limited to property deeds, wills and powers of attorney. Here in the U.S. Virgin Islands., notaries public are under the careful watch of the Lieutenant Governor and a recent measure by the 34th Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands has now reached Gov. Albert Bryan’s desk and will ensure notaries are more accessible. This is extremely important now that COVID-19 has put an elongated pause on personal interaction. And though the government is slowly lifting mask mandates and other restrictions, there is still a need for caution.

A new law backed by AARP Virgin Islands should help the region alleviate a serious nursing shortage.

Español | AARP in The Virgin Islands supported the passage of Bill No. 34-0040, an Act to Establish the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) to create a Multistate Nursing License in the Virgin Islands. It was approved by the Health, Hospitals, and Human Services Committee and the Committee on Rules and Judiciary earlier in the year. It was signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. on December 6, 2021.

Court proceedings can drag on, which is a problem for older people and the terminally ill who want to get their affairs in order before it’s too late.

Español | AARP in The Virgin Islands advocated for passage of Bill No. 34-0076, now Act No. 8468, which amends the existing law to grant seniors and the terminally ill preference in civil actions. The VI Legislature voted in favor of the Bill on August 3, 2021, and it was signed into law by Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. on August 16, 2021.