Regional News From the AARP Bulletin
Source: AARP.org | November 9, 2006
January/February 2008
Aid for caregivers – More caregivers would be eligible for greater financial relief under legislation (HB 1830) now before the state Senate.
The bill, which AARP Pennsylvania supports, would expand home care reimbursements under the state’s Family Caregiver Support Program and would allow nonfamily caregivers to receive such aid. The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives in October, would raise the monthly allowance for out-of-pocket expenses from $200 to $500 and increase one-time grants for home modifications or assistive devices from $2,000 to $6,000.
Nearly one in four U.S. households is involved in caring for a friend or family member age 50-plus.
December 2007
A zoo story – In a one-day autumn blitz at Philadelphia's historic Reading Terminal Market, volunteers for AARP's Divided We Fail campaign collected nearly 1,000 pledges from Pennsylvanians who support legislation aimed at ensuring affordable health care and lifelong financial security for all Americans. Previously at the Philadelphia Zoo, volunteers gathered more than 300 Divided We Fail pledges during a wellness fair sponsored by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.
In addition, volunteers decked out in red Divided We Fail T-shirts made an appearance at an Oct. 30 Democratic presidential candidate debate at Drexel University, where Champ, the campaign mascot — a donkey-elephant hybrid — made its national debut.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.dividedwefail.org.
November 2007
Braving the streets – Armed with survey forms, clipboards, counters and cameras, AARP Pennsylvania volunteers recently spent time in Pittsburgh recording such hazards as aggressive drivers, crumbling curbs and cracked sidewalks. The effort was part of a pilot project designed to assess how traffic intersections affect mobility, safety and quality of life for people age 55 and older.
AARP and the Washington-based Institute of Transportation Engineers are conducting the project and will present a report of the findings to Pittsburgh officials. The effort could serve as a model for pedestrian safety audits in other cities, says Elinor Ginzler, AARP national director for livable communities.
October 2007
Clear options – Assisted living has been clearly defined as a distinct form of long-term care under a new law that Gov. Ed Rendell, D, signed in late July. Rendell and legislative leaders credited AARP Pennsylvania with helping ensure passage of the measure as a way to expand long-term care alternatives in the state, which currently spends 67 percent of its Medicaid long-term care money on nursing home care.
By defining assisted living as a form of long-term care, the law makes the state eligible for federal funding for assisted living programs. And by requiring standards for assisted living facilities, the law will help people know what to expect when considering that type of care.
The measure “keeps Pennsylvania moving toward a long-term care system that better balances institutional care with home and community programs,” says Dick Chevrefils, AARP state director.
June 2007
On-the-job savings... In an effort to increase the number of workers participating in retirement savings plans, AARP Pennsylvania has teamed up with the U.S. Department of Labor and state and local chambers of commerce to encourage more employers to offer such plans. The campaign is aimed especially at small and mid-size employers who may think retirement savings plans are too pricey. Some alternatives to traditional 401(k) plans include individual retirement accounts, profit sharing and employee stock ownership. Another goal is to increase the number of businesses offering automatic enrollment in savings plans.
Employers who would like to learn more can contact AARP Pennsylvania toll free at 1-866-389-5654 or visit www.aarp.org/pa.
May 2007
Taking it to the streets... The need to reform the state’s long-term care system will take center stage at AARP Pennsylvania’s upcoming Lobby Day on June 5 at the Capitol in Harrisburg. The event also will highlight such issues as health care reform and improving financial security.
AARP advocates are hoping the long-term care reforms in “Prescription for Pennsylvania,” a plan proposed by Gov. Edward Rendell, D, will lead lawmakers to support increased funding for home and community-based care. The timing for Lobby Day coincides with the start of final negotiations by the governor and legislators on the 2007-2008 state budget.
The Lobby Day event is free, but admission tickets are required and will be mailed in advance. To register, call 1-877-926-8300 toll free no later than May 21.
April 2007
Rx for health reform... Gov. Edward Rendell, D, has unveiled a Prescription for Pennsylvania plan that aims to provide affordable health coverage for the uninsured, improve quality of care and control health care costs for businesses and employees. AARP Pennsylvania supports the plan’s major goals, such as providing more long-term care services in people’s homes and communities and reducing medical errors and hospital infection rates. “We are encouraged by what we’ve seen so far,” says Ray Landis, AARP associate state director for advocacy. The plan now goes before the legislature. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/pa or www.ohcr.state.pa.us.
March 2007
Freeze thieves out... A new state law gives consumers more control over their personal financial information in an effort to cut down on identity theft. A law signed by Gov. Edward Rendell, D, in November allows consumers to place a freeze on their credit reports, preventing unauthorized access to the information. Pennsylvanians can request a security freeze by certified mail or online and can lift the freeze—for example, when they want to apply for credit—by using a personal identification number, or PIN. Each of the three major credit-reporting agencies can charge up to a $10 fee to place or lift a freeze, but consumers age 65 and older are exempt. More than half of all states now have security freeze laws on the books. To learn more about Pennsylvania’s law—and how to contact credit-reporting agencies—go to www.aarp.org/pa.
December 2006
Consumer protection... A bill providing safeguards against home improvement contractor fraud (SB 1000) was approved by the state Senate in June and is poised to pass in the House.
The legislation would require home improvement contractors to register with the state and to sign contracts with consumers guaranteeing that their work will be completed. The law would apply to any kind of home improvement—from painting to roofing to major remodeling.
AARP Pennsylvania has been fighting for such legislation for several years. AARP studies have shown that home improvement scams are a problem nationwide for consumers 55-plus, who tend to live in older homes and may not be able to perform regular home maintenance.
Home improvement contractor fraud consistently ranks among the top five types of consumer complaints filed with the state Attorney General’s Office. In 2005 such complaints ranked second for Pennsylvanians age 60 and older.
November 2006
In a state that spends almost three times as much of its Medicaid money on nursing homes as on home and community-based care, advocates are pushing for more balance in the long-term care system.
AARP Pennsylvania plans a post-election policy forum to begin talking about the need to offer more choices in long-term care and about how to use existing money to do so. The 2006 merger of the state’s prescription drug assistance programs with Medicare Part D is expected to save the state $170 million each fiscal year—money that advocates say could pay for a lot of home and community-based services.
To learn more about the issue, visit www.aarp.org/pa.
—Reports by Donya Currie Arias
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