Advocacy

About 1 in 10 older Americans have reported experiencing elder abuse, and most experts believe the crime is underreported. According to the National Council on Aging, just 1 in 14 cases of abuse against people age 60-plus is reported to authorities.

Nearly 40 percent of West Virginians are 50 or older, and AARP will fight for their interests in the legislative session that begins Feb. 8. AARP staff and volunteers on the Capitol Advocacy Team will work with lawmakers throughout the 60-day session to advance legislative priorities such as retirement security; access to affordable, reliable broadband service; caregiving; and home- and community-based services.

West Virginia's first broadcast gubernatorial debate of the 2016 General Election cycle was presented by AARP West Virginia and the West Virginia Press Association on Tuesday, October 4. The hour-long debate originated from the Walker Theater at Charleston’s Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. West Virginia Public Broadcasting produced the live television, radio and online broadcast, with Ashton Marra serving as moderator for the debate between gubernatorial candidates Senate President Bill Cole (R) and Jim Justice (D).

Candidates go beyond sound bites on major issues facing older West Virginians & their families

AARP staff and volunteers from West Virginia and across the nation converged in Washington on June 8th to advocate on behalf of AARP members and all older Americans on the crucial issues of Family Caregiving and Social Security.

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can make a huge difference in health care for patients in rural areas where doctors are few and far between. But without authority to perform certain medical tasks, these highly skilled nurses are hamstrung.

CHARLESTON (March 2, 2016) - AARP West Virginia and the West Virginia Nurses Association today addressed concerns raised by West Virginia’s law enforcement community over House Bill 4334, legislation currently pending in the West Virginia Senate that would allow skilled, trained advanced practice registered nursing professionals to practice to the full extent of their education, training and ability.

Charleston, WV - In our fourth video update from the 2016 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 4334, which would remove barriers to primary care access by ending the overregulation of nurse practitioners, is on the move at the State Capitol; and West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha, 40th District) discusses legislative efforts to enhance protections against elder abuse and financial exploitation.

Charleston, WV - In our third video update from the 2016 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, four West Virginia lawmakers - West Virginia Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson, 4th District), Senate Health Chair Senator Ryan Ferns (R-Ohio, 1st District), House of Delegates Majority Leader Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan, 58th District) and House Health Chair Delegate Joe Ellington (R-Mercer, 27th District) - were recently among 76 state legislators honored nationally as AARP Capitol Caregivers, and West Virginia House of Delegates Health Committee Vice Chair Del. Amy Summers (R-Taylor, 49th District) discusses efforts to increase consumer access to health care by changing outdated regulations that deny patients access to nurse practitioners.

Charleston, WV - In our second video update from the 2016 regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, Broadband Day at the Legislature highlights the need for improved high speed internet access across the Mountain State. We hear from Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 6th District), Senator Chris Walters (R-Putnam, 8th District), Del. Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay, 33rd District) and AARP West Virginia State Director Gaylene Miller on the broad support for improvements to address the Mountain State's broadband access issues. Senate Health Chair Sen. Ryan Ferns (R-Ohio, 1st District) also discusses the West Virginia Legislature's efforts efforts to fight elder abuse and financial exploitation.