AARP Arkansas Voter Express Van Takes Issues to AARP Members, Citizens
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-09-11 16:49:18.434551-04:00
"Let's Roll!"
That's what the AARP Executive Council and State Leadership volunteers said at a news conference to announce the Voter Express van tour. AARP volunteers are taking a branded, shrink-wrapped van on the road from now until the General Election. As the van stops at large and small festivals and public events all over Arkansas, volunteers will talk with friends and neighbors about AARP's issues.
AARP Arkansas is committed to improving long-term care choices, stopping abusive payday lending and opposing so-called nursing home tort reform for all Arkansans, but can't do it alone.
So, volunteers and members are asking friends and neighbors around the state for their support. A description of each issue appears below. View a short online video.
You and your friends and neighbors are invited to visit the Voter Express van, when it comes to your community. Check out the van tour schedule online or by calling Susan Kuehner at 1-866-554-5379
Reforming the Long-Term Care System
In a 2005 AARP survey, most AARP members in Arkansas said they would prefer to live at home as long as possible, but don't know if they can afford the help they'll need with daily tasks like bathing, dressing and eating. Only four percent said they would prefer living in a nursing home. Arkansas currently spends most of its long-term care budget on nursing home care.
- AARP believes that allowing Medicaid benefits to follow the person instead of a provider will let more people choose where to get their care.
- It will allow spending to be rebalanced, or spread more evenly across the various options.
- We believe rebalancing Arkansas ' s long-term care system will give more people a choice of where to get their long-term care services.
Protecting Nursing Home Residents
Some nursing homes may ask the State Legislature to further protect them from liability for abuse and neglect of nursing home residents (so-called nursing home tort reform).
If they do, AARP Arkansas will continue to stand firmly against such measures, because we believe:
- Nursing homes are already protected under the Civil Justice Reform Act, and any more protections from accountability would just allow some nursing homes to escape accountability for quality care.
- All nursing homes must provide quality care to their residents.
- If a nursing home abuses or neglects a nursing home resident entrusted to its care, it must be held fully accountable.
Protecting Consumers from Abusive Payday Lending
Payday loans are short-term, high interest loans used by some people who, desperately, need money before payday. It's not uncommon for some people to spend four months and $800 repaying a $325 payday loan.
- AARP believes no one should have to pay interest rates that exceed the 17 percent limit set by our state constitution.
- Laws should be enacted to prevent payday lenders from charging interest rates that are higher than the 17 percent limit set by the state constitution.
Additional Related Links
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