The Food Stamp Program And Older Americans
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Jean Accius highlights recent changes in the Food Stamp Program, including expanded access for low-income Americans through the reauthorization of the 2008 Farm Bill. Data are provided on the characteristics of older participants, participation rates, eligibility, benefits, and special provisions for older households.

Nutrition Assistance for Older Americans
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Jean Accius describes the federal programs that provide nutrition assistance to older Americans and the funding sources that support these programs. Information is included on food stamps, congregate and home-delivered meals, and food programs.

The Role of the Older Americans Act in Providing Long-Term Care
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Jean Accius explains the important role that the Older Americans Act (OAA) plays in the delivery of long-term services and supports to older adults, including the funding of nutrition services, family caregiver support, disease prevention, health promotion, and other supportive services.

Facts on Health Care Spending and Costs
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, written by Shelly-Ann Sinclair, reviews trends in national health spending, examines how the rapid growth in health care costs is reflected at the consumer level, explores factors driving health care costs, and discusses opportunities to control cost growth.

The Coverage of Employer-Provided Pensions: Partial and Uncertain
This chart book by Sandy Mackenzie and Ke Bin Wu of AARP’s Public Policy Institute explores participation in employer-provided pension plans and trends in pension coverage. The report cites the growing dominance of 401(k) plans, which increases the risks borne by workers saving for retirement, and calls for measures to broaden coverage and improve 401(k) plans.

Rx Watchdog Report: Specialty Prescription Drugs: 2007 Year-End Update
Changes in prices charged by manufacturers to wholesalers and other direct purchasers for the brand name drugs most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries are examined in this series of AARP Public Policy Institute reports.

A First Look at Older Americans and the Mortgage Crisis
This first-ever analysis of mortgage data by age shows that older Americans have been significantly impacted by the mortgage crisis, with more than 684,000 homeowners age 50+ in delinquency or foreclosure during July-December 2007, according to this Insight on the Issues by Alison Shelton of AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

Determining Whether 401(k) Plan Fees are Reasonable: Are Disclosure Requirements Adequate?
Excessive fees on 401(k) plans can drastically reduce a retirement nest egg. The current regulatory framework does not require that plan participants receive adequate information on fees, and they are typically poorly informed. This Research Report, by Sandy Mackenzie of AARP’s Public Policy Institute, finds that a reform of the framework is needed to provide them with the basic information necessary to understand the costs of different investment options.

Millions of Low-Income Americans Can’t Get Medicaid: What Can Be Done?
The poorest adults in this country do not have access to the Medicaid program unless they are pregnant, caring for dependent children, severely disabled, or age 65 or older. This publication describes options for changing the federal law that bars this needy group from the Medicaid program.

Increasing Home Access: Designing for Visitability
Visitability initiatives that support aging independently in one’s home and community are the subject of this AARP Public Policy Institute Research Report. Authors Jordana Maisel and Edward Steinfeld of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA) and Eleanor Smith of Concrete Change discuss the barriers to visitability implementation and opportunities for further acceptance of these design parameters in the construction of new homes.