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Job Skills Training in Alabama

AARP ALABAMA SURVEY REVEALS TRAINING GAPS FOR 40+ JOBSEEKERS THAT COULD PUT THEM AT A DISADVANTAGE IN THE EVER COMPETITIVE GLOBAL JOB MARKET.

MONTGOMERY – An AARP Alabama study released today found that Alabamians 40 and older are largely unprepared to compete in the global economy as employers need a workforce able to adapt quickly to new technology, changing methods of production, and evolving consumer demands.

The study, Job Skills Training and Opportunities: Opinions and Perspectives of Alabama Workers Age 40+ , found that half (52%) of all workers do not think that additional job training will help them advance in their job or help get a better job.

However, according to a recent report out of the National Commission on Adult Literacy, many Alabama workers do not have the skills and training or education to meet the demands and needs of the state’s industries and employers – nearly half a million workers between the ages of 16 to 64 do not have a high school degree and few are enrolled in post-secondary education.

“Alabama’s employers and the workforce itself must understand the value of keeping one’s skills up to date,” said AARP Alabama State Director Joan Carter. “It’s vital to develop and maintain a competitive economy.”

Key findings revealed:

· Most (70%) Alabama workers aged 40 and older are extremely or very satisfied with their job, 53% have no plans to leave their current employer, and 21% are not looking for another job but would consider an offer presented to them.

· Over the past five years, 59% of Alabama workers age 40+ have participated in job-related skills training or education programs offered to them by an employer and 86% of them indicate they personally have not had to pay for that training. Additionally, 86% are satisfied with the work-related training opportunities offered through their employers, with 60% saying they are extremely or very satisfied, and another 26% indicating they are somewhat satisfied.

· While 51% of survey respondents say they are extremely or very likely to engage in any job training through their employer over the next five years, 31% say they are not likely to do so. What is more, 52% do not think that additional job training will help them advance in their job or help get a better job.

· Most (80%) respondents say they have not taken any job-related training outside of work or through a community organization in the past five years.

· Among all Alabama workers and those looking for work, 40% plan to continue working at their current job either full or part-time when they reach retirement age. For the majority of respondents, needing or wanting additional income (84%), enjoying work (84%), building up a personal savings (79%), and maintaining health coverage for themselves or their families (72%) are major/minor factors in deciding to work beyond retirement.

AARP has many resources and tools that can help businesses with their workforce planning. The Employer Resource Center at www.aarp.org/employerresourcecenter is an online site for employers, with information on workforce assessment, recruitment and retention strategies, workplace law, and employer best practices.

For a copy of the entire report visit http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/money/work/employment/articles/al_workers_09.html

Survey interviews were conducted from November 19 to December 10, 2008. This survey of 900 workers and people actively looking for work in Alabama gauges their experiences with and perceptions of employer and community job training opportunities. An over-sample of 200 African Americans was obtained. The margin of error for the total sample of completed and tabulated surveys is ± 3.27 percent.

Added: October 30, 2009
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AARP Volunteer President Addresses Members of Health Care Reform

Where We Stand: Health Reform—

The Time to Act Is Now

Dear AARP Members,

Health care is dominating the news these days—and it should. All sides agree on the diagnosis: While America’s health care system is known for research and innovation, it unfortunately costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money.

Rarely does a policy issue touch so closely to each of our lives. We hear every day from members who tell us heartbreaking stories … the 60-year-old who couldn’t afford her insurance and had to declare bankruptcy … the 80-year-old who can’t afford to fill his prescriptions … the 50-year-old breast cancer survivor crushed by health costs for her parents’ care and unable to get insurance for herself because of her preexisting condition.

Since health care is so personal yet big—accounting for a sixth of our nation’s economy—the solutions are complicated and confusing. There are many difficult questions to sort through, and reasonable people disagree on the wisdom of many specific proposals. Each of us owes it to ourselves to get educated on the issue and decide about these tough choices.

AARP is fighting to make sure health reform will:

Lower drug costs and strengthen Medicare. Close the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” ensure patients’ access to their doctors, not increase copays, and crack down on fraud and wasteful spending.

Protect your health care choices. Make sure you can choose your doctor, your health insurance plan and where to receive care.

End discrimination by insurance companies. Prevent insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a preexisting condition or using age to price Americans ages 50 to 64 out of affordable, quality health insurance.

Guarantee stable, affordable coverage. Ensure you have the security of knowing that if you lose or change jobs, you will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.

The cost of doing nothing is unacceptable. Without reform, a family’s premiums for health insurance will almost double by 2016 to over $24,000. Medicare enrollees have already seen their premiums more than double this decade, and they already spend a third of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.

Despite the tremendous need for health care reform, many of you have expressed confusion, skepticism and even fear about what Congress is proposing.

These concerns are understandable. There has been a lot of misinformation and fear-mongering in this debate. From allegations about rationing care to wild reports of government-sponsored euthanasia, the rumors just keep getting crazier. Haven’t we all had enough?

Throughout the debate, we want to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family.

AARP has been working with Republican and Democratic leaders for years, and we will continue to do so. To be clear: AARP has not endorsed any comprehensive health care reform bill—but we are fighting for a solution that improves health care for our members.

At the end of the day, the standard that AARP will use to judge the legislation is simple: Will this legislation improve health care and provide peace of mind to our members and their families?

We urge you to make your voice heard. Tell Congress not to let myths get in the way of fixing health care.

Sincerely,

Jennie Chin Hansen, President

Added: September 29, 2009
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AARP Applauds Bill to Help Seniors Struggling in Tough Economy

Medicare Premium Fairness Act Helps

Seniors Struggling in Tough Economy

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued this statement applauding the introduction of the “Medicare Premium Fairness Act” (H.R. 3631):

“As health care costs continue to soar despite lower inflation throughout the economy, older Americans are hit particularly hard. Retirees have seen their savings wiped away by market losses while their health care bills continue to climb. People in Medicare today spend nearly a third of their income on health care. The lack of a cost-of-living update in Social Security means that millions more in Medicare could see their health care costs rise further out of reach.

“AARP applauds Chairman Rangel, Chairman Stark, Rep. Titus, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Emeritus Dingell and Chairman Pallone for introducing this important legislation. By holding Medicare premiums steady for all beneficiaries for the next year—premiums that have doubled since 2000—their bill would help ensure that health care is more affordable for people in Medicare—without burdening taxpayers or future generations with new spending.

“We urge every House member who worries about the health and economic security of their constituents in Medicare to support this legislation when it reaches the floor tomorrow.”

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Added: September 28, 2009
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Healthcare Reform Whopper of the Week

Whopper of the Week:

AARP lays out the myths and facts about health reform

There’s a maze of misinformation out there on health reform. Because the stakes are high, you need the facts. AARP Alabama’s “Whopper of the Week” details the latest myth on health reforms, gives you the facts and helps you be heard on this important issue.

To share your thoughts on health reform, pro or con, please call 1-866-AARP-449. To learn more about the issue, or to share your story of how our health system is affecting you, please go to www.healthactionnow.org .

Now for this week’s Whopper:

Health reform means seniors’ benefits will be cut under Medicare.

Actually, health reform is critical to ensuring that the Medicare program will be able to provide you benefits when you need them. Also, it’s important to realize that current proposals in Congress would increase important benefits under Medicare.

First, your choice of doctor and hospital is protected under all three major bills under discussion. (See what the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Politifact.com has to say about opponents’ claims that you’d lose your ability to choose your health care.)

Second, the White House and major U.S. drug manufacturers have agreed that if health reform is adopted, drugmakers will voluntarily cut in half the cost of name-brand drugs provided for those who fall into the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” or coverage gap. Over time, the bills before Congress would close the “doughnut hole” entirely. Read more from the nonpartisan National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, or go to AARP’s Doughnut Hole Calculator to figure out when you might fall into the “doughnut hole” and how you can choose less expensive generic drugs to lower your costs.

Third, both the Senate Finance Committee and House “Tri-Committee” plans eliminate Medicare copayments and deductibles you currently pay for preventive care services, such as cancer screenings. (See the respected Kaiser Foundation’s side-by-side analysis of all health-reform plans.)

Fourth, current versions of health reform legislation require your health insurer to pay you back if they spend less than 85 percent of premium dollars on the care of patients – in other words, if their overhead and profit costs exceed 15 percent.

When opponents of health reform talk about Medicare “cuts,” here’s what they point to: Provisions now before Congress currently would reduce taxpayer-financed subsidies paid to some private insurance companies to provide care under the Medicare name. (Here’s a Families USA study on these plans.) These plans currently get paid extra to provide the same care as traditional Medicare provides. That’s a fact that health-reform opponents never mention.

Other legislative proposals target one of the areas of Medicare most prone to abuse – payments for medical equipment. Recently, an enterprising TV journalist found that one of these companies had charged Medicare $1,200 for a wheelchair – but managed to buy the same kind of wheelchair from the same company for $349. The bills also allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription-drug prices, like the Veterans’ Administration does now.

Targeted savings like these are very important. They make it possible to protect Medicare’s solvency over the long term. We all realize that Medicare urgently needs help to remain strong. Suppose you’re 65 today – do you want Medicare to be stable and capable of providing for your care when you are 75? At AARP, we want to ensure Medicare remains strong for you and for future generations.

As the health reform debate progresses, AARP Alabama will do everything it can to help you stay informed. Please visit our website, www.aarp.org/al, often for updates or call 1-866-AARP-449 to share your thoughts on health care.

Added: August 19, 2009
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AARP Dispels Myths About Health Care Reform

Throughout the debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system, AARP pledges to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family. When we see special interests using scare tactics, we’ll make sure you’re given the facts so you can make informed decisions about health care reform. Check out AARP’s blog this week, which is highlighting some of the most common myths being spread about health care reform and the facts that prove them wrong.

Added: August 4, 2009
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AARP Reacts to Senate Decision to Delay Health Care Reform Vote

Washington – AARP today reacted to the Senate’s decision to put off voting on health care reform legislation until after the August recess. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:

“AARP is disappointed in the failure to reach agreement on passing comprehensive health care reform until after the August recess. The millions of people impacted by high drug costs and those that can’t get adequate health insurance because of age or a pre-existing condition need help now. An August of waiting will not lower costs, increase access or improve quality. Few understand the enormous challenge of this task better than AARP. We have been working to reform health care for more than 50 years and we know this is difficult. But Congress needs to get this done. American families simply cannot afford Washington’s stalemate any longer.”

ABOUT AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Added: July 23, 2009
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Are you an advocate? Become the voice for change!

AARP is looking for people just like you to become citizen advocates, and meetings are being held throughout Alabama to tell people more. The next will be held in Huntsville, but check back often to learn about other locations.

As an AARP volunteer, you will join our network of district volunteers working to improve the lives of all Alabamians. To learn more about volunteering with AARP, join us:

Tuesday, August 11

9:00 a.m. - noon

Huntsville Madison Senior Center

2200 Drake Avenue

Huntsville

Everyone is invited, and every level of involvement is needed. If you know someone who might be interested, invite a friend.

Please RSVP by calling1-877-926-8300.

Added: July 15, 2009
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If You Have Medicare, You Have Rights

More than 800,000 Alabamians have Medicare. But many of them may not know that they have some important rights regarding the quality of the health care they receive, and that there's an organization in Alabama that works to ensure those rights. AQAF is the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the state of Alabama.

One AQAF's responsibilities is to look at the quality of medical care that Alabama's Medicare patients receive. AQAF's goal is to address your concerns while working with doctors and health care providers (hospitals, nursing homes, surgery centers, etc.) to help them provide better care in the future.

Some examples of quality of care concerns that AQAF can address are medication errors, unnecessary or inappropriate surgery or treatment or a change in your condition that was not treated.

As a Medicare patient you also have the right to appeal to AQAF about your discharge from a hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, home health care agency or a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility. AQAF's toll free Helpline is 1-800-366-1486. You can get more information about your Medicare rights and AQAF's work as your Alabama QIO at www.aqaf.com .

Added: June 29, 2009
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Troy Man is Top 10 Speller in AARP Spelling Bee

CHEYENNE, WYO (June 20, 2009) – Today, AARP crowned Michael Petrina Jr., 64, of Arlington, Virginia, the winner of the AARP National Spelling Bee. Petrina won the championship by correctly spelling “woad” and out-spelled 45 other spellers from more than 25 states who competed in the record-breaking Bee that lasted 46 rounds.

Petrina and runner up Scott Firebaugh, 55, of Knoxville, Tennessee, battled each other for 30 rounds to determine the winner. James Sherry, 57, of Troy, placed ninth.

The Bee was held earlier today at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Gil Couts, 66, from Bigfork, Montana finished third. A full list of finalists can be found online at www.aarp.org/spellingbee.

“We’re thrilled that so many people from across the country came out for this year’s competition and we want to congratulate Michael for coming out ahead of the pack,” said AARP Wyoming Director Tim Summers. “Our Spelling Bee has continued to grow in popularity since it was created by AARP members 14 years ago, and the cognitive and social benefits of exercising your mind as you age make all of today’s participants winners.”

The AARP National Spelling Bee began with a 100-word written spelling test in the morning, narrowing the field to the top 16 spellers who advanced to the afternoon’s oral spelling rounds. Spellers were allowed to miss three words in the oral rounds before being knocked out of the competition.

The AARP National Spelling Bee was created in 1996 by a group of Cheyenne AARP members who wanted to challenge the 50+ community to keep their minds sharp as they age. It is open to anyone age 50 or older, except previous winners, and is supported by Merriam-Webster Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, Taco John’s Foundation, Franklin Electronic Publishers, the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wyoming Network, Inc., the Cheyenne Women’s Civic League, and the Laramie County Library System.

Registration for next year’s Bee scheduled for June 19, 2010, is open at www.aarp.org/spellingbee or by calling 1-877-926-8300.

“It’s great to see so many people dedicated to keeping their minds sharp and taking on the challenge of participating in the Bee,” Summers said. “We hope to see even more spellers compete in next year’s AARP National Spelling Bee.”

The top 10 finishers in this year’s AARP National Spelling Bee were (tied spellers are listed under the same number):

1. Michael Petrina Jr., 64, Arlington, VA

2. Scott Firebaugh, 55, Knoxville, TN (round 46)

3. Gil Couts, 66, Bigfork, MT (round 16)

4. Marlene Harry, 57, Brownsburg, IN (round 13)

5. Deborah George, 56, Livermore, CO (round 11)

6. Dr. Norman Zucker, 62, Sebastopol, CA (round 10)

7. Joan Saxton, 67, Sausalito, CA (round 8)

7. Carolyn Dickmann, 65, Richmond Heights, MO (round 8)

8. Kate Karp, 60, Long Beach, CA (round 7)

8. Dr. Kent Stockton, 67, Riverton, WY (round 7)

8. Joseph Dickmann, 65, Richmond Heights, MO (round 7)

8. Mary DeForest, 62, Denver, CO (round 7)

9. James Sherry, 57, Troy, AL (round 6)

10. Ed Dorschel, 60, Enumclaw, WA (round 5)

10. Lucy Morales, 57, Washington, D.C. (round 5)

10. Kathryn Pulver, 51, New York, NY (round 5)

Added: June 23, 2009
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Almost 72,000 Alabamians Age 50-64 Are Uninsured, Learn More

With so much information in the news recently about health care reform, it can be hard to get a realistic picture of the situation in the state of Alabama. So, AARP created State Health Care Briefs for each state. The one-page overview provides facts on health care data, the older population, the uninsured, hospital re-admissions among Medicare beneficiaries, the distribution of Medicaid long-term care funds, prescription drug spending and the number of Medicare beneficiaries, including those who fall into the “doughnut hole.”.

To see Alabama's or any other state's health care brief, go to

http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/state_hcb_09.html

Added: June 23, 2009
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