The views of Virginia AARP members on health care quality, long-term care, caregiving, payday lending, and transportation are explored in this series of reports. Major findings include the following:

• The vast majority of Virginia AARP members (91%) believe that all licensed health care professionals should be required to demonstrate their competence periodically.
• About eight in ten (79%) say they support the Virginia legislature increasing funds for the Caregiver Grant Program to $1 million per year.
• The vast majority (93%) say that strengthening the enforcement of quality standards in nursing homes is important.
• More than seven in ten Virginia AARP members (71%) indicate they support capping the annual rate payday lenders can charge at 36 percent APR.
• One in five Virginia AARP members (21%) report health problems and disabilities that curtail their ability to get to where they need and want to go.
• More than nine in ten (91%) indicate that it is important for the state to increase funding for public transportation programs that serve older persons and those with disabilities.
• More than four in five Virginia AARP members (81%) indicate it is important for Virginia to improve coordination of human services transportation systems.

 

The mail survey of a random sample of 790 AARP Virginia members was conducted in July-August 2007. Further information may be obtained from the report’s author, Anita Stowell-Ritter, of AARP Knowledge Management at 202-434-6205.