AARP: Fighting for Louisiana

AARP Louisiana has 200 appointed volunteers, four councils, and 88,000 e-activists engaging elected officials on issues important to the 489,720 AARP Louisiana members and their families.

Our all volunteer Capitol Advocacy Team advances AARP Louisiana’s legislative agenda. We offer forums on legislative issues and state and national advocacy campaigns. The state office also is engaging members through Facebook which currently has 270 fans.

AARP convened an ongoing stakeholder’s coalition on Chronic Care Management. The Coalition for Choice in Long-Term Care monitors and acts on developments within the Department of Health and Hospitals and other agencies.

AARP is represented on the Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum, an organization created to advance quality, affordable health care. AARP’s Livable Communities Council is identifying barriers to livable communities. The coalition authored and worked to pass The Complete Streets Study Resolution (SCR 110) in the 2009 legislative session. The bill mandated the Secretary of Transportation to convene a study group. The group released an interim report focusing on steps the Department of Transportation can take to implement a complete streets program.

AARP formed an advocacy team focusing on legislative changes that strengthen the Department of Transportation’s plan. AARP is hosting a Human Services Transportation Conference this year to highlight the importance of transportation options.

A model for local engagement emerged from AARP’s partnership with the Hollygrove community in . AARP was asked by state, federal, and nonprofit agencies to expand its livable communities work into three additional cities in Louisiana. This work continues in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria .

AARP Contact Information

Louisiana:  Nancy McPherson, Senior State Director; NMcpherson@aarp.org; (225) 376-1141

Washington, DC: Pete Jeffries, Senior Legislative Representative; PJeffries@aarp.org; (515) 697-1017

References

Strengthening Social Security: Social Security Administration, 2007. OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County.

Protecting Medicare: The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2008. State Health Facts. http://www.statehealthfacts.org/

Improving Health Care: Doughnut hole: AARP (PPI) Fact Sheet, 2009. “Closing the ‘Doughnut Hole’ Will Help Protect Over One-Third of Medicare Beneficiaries from High Drug Costs”

Improving Health Care: Uninsured 50-64: Census Bureau. Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2007 through 2009

Improving Health Care: Home and Community-Based Services: AARP PPI, 2009. Across the States: Profiles of Long-term Care and Independent Living.

Supporting Caregivers: AARP PPI, 2008. Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Caregiving, 2008 Update.

Promoting Retirement Savings: Based on data from the US Census, State and Patterns & Current Populations Survey statistics on Pension Coverage. 2004.