AARP: Policy and Research Information for Professionals in Aging

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Personal and Legal Rights

In Brief: Guarding the Guardians: Promising Practices for Court Monitoring  / Research Report
December 2007— A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report of the same title in which Naomi Karp (PPI) and Erica Wood (American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging) identify methods for helping courts effectively monitor adult guardianships to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. These promising practices enable courts to detect abuses and sanction guardians who demonstrate malfeasance. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB152)

Guarding the Guardians: Promising Practices for Court Monitoring  / Research Report
December 2007— Court monitoring of adult guardianships is essential to ensuring the welfare of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Effective guardianship monitoring methods are identified in this AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report by Naomi Karp of PPI and Erica Wood of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging. These promising practices enable courts to detect abuses and sanction guardians who demonstrate malfeasance. (91 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-21)

Awareness of Security Freeze Legislation and Use of Security Freezes by Consumers Age 18+  / Research Report
November 2007— Consumers are largely unaware of their option to use a security freeze to shield their credit reports from identity thieves, according to this April-May 2007 AARP telephone survey of age 18+ residents in seven states. Older consumers report that they would be more likely to use a security freeze if the process were easier and less costly.

Barriers to the Use of Security Freezes by Older Consumers  / Research Report
October 2007— Older consumers are largely unaware of their option to use a security freeze to shield their credit reports from identity thieves, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Neal Walters, which also finds that older consumers would be more likely to use a security freeze if the process of placing and using it was easier and less costly. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD160)

In Brief: Assisted Living In Unlicensed Housing: The Regulatory Experience Of Four States  / Research Report
April 2007— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Bernadette Wright about the experiences of Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and North Carolina with a new services model in which assisted living services are provided in unlicensed housing and its implications for consumers. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB138)

Assisted Living In Unlicensed Housing: The Regulatory Experience Of Four States  / Research Report
April 2007— In a growing number of states, a new services model has emerged, in which assisted living services are provided in unlicensed housing. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Bernadette Wright describes the experiences of Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and North Carolina with this model and the implications for consumers. (43 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-08)

No-Fault Medical Malpractice Compensation: Policy Considerations for Design of a Demonstration Project  / Research Report
March 2007— A "no-fault" administrative compensation system for medical injuries promises a simpler, less contentious means of adjudicating claims that would facilitate self-critical discussion of the causes of medical errors. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Jackson Williams identifies dilemmas involved in a switch from tort lawsuits to administrative "health courts." (32 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-06)

Federal Options to Improve America's Ailing Guardianship System  / Research Report
December 2006— Guardianship can both prevent and promote elder abuse. This December 2006 White Paper by Naomi Karp, JD, of AARP’s Public Policy Institute explores federal options to improve guardianship, suggesting three areas for federal-level action to enhance protections for incapacitated elders. (8 pages) (Publication ID: M-2)

In Brief: A Bill of Rights for Homeowners in Associations: Basic Principles of Consumer Protection and Sample Model Statute  / Research Report
July 2006— A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which key principles for states to follow when developing laws and regulatory procedures for homeowners associations and other types of common-interest communities are enumerated by Texas attorney and homeowner rights advocate David A. Kahne. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB128)

State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children  / Fact Sheet
July 2006— For grandparents and other relatives raising children, these fact sheets -- which have been compiled by a group of child and aging advocacy and research organizations -- provide state-specific data and information for all 50 states and the District of Columbia about support services and policies that can help make the caregiving role easier.

Into the Breach: Security Breaches and Identity Theft  / Research Report
July 2006— Security breaches of data files can lead to identity theft. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Neal Walters analyzes 244 breaches between January 1, 2005 and May 26, 2006, and finds that 40 percent were caused by hackers or insider access targeting sensitive personal information, potentially exposing 50 million individuals’ names and personal data. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD142)

A Bill of Rights for Homeowners in Associations: Basic Principles of Consumer Protection and Sample Model Statute  / Research Report
July 2006— Key principles for states to follow when developing laws and regulatory procedures for homeowners associations and other types of common-interest communities are enumerated in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Texas attorney and homeowner rights advocate David A. Kahne. Sample statutory language is also provided. (71 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-15)

Guardianship Monitoring: A National Survey of Court Practices  / Research Report
June 2006— How well do courts monitor the growing number of guardians they appoint to safeguard adults who lack capacity to make their own decisions? In this AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) report of a 2005 national survey of experts with frontline experience, Naomi Karp of AARP PPI and Erica Wood of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging explore current court practices in monitoring guardianships. (63 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-14)

In Brief: Guardianship Monitoring: A National Survey of Court Practices  / Research Report
June 2006— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Report of a national survey in which Naomi Karp of AARP Public Policy Institute and Erica Wood of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging explore current court practices in monitoring guardianships. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB126)

Defending Your Financial Privacy: The Benefits and Limits of Self-Help  / Research Report
February 2006— Coping with threats to consumers’ financial privacy is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Robert N. Mayer which concludes that while individuals are taking significant actions to protect their privacy, they can't do it alone, and that businesses and government bodies must become involved in educating the public, developing new privacy protection technologies, and offering credible, well-publicized programs that lower what it costs consumers to defend their privacy. (54 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-06)

In Brief: Defending Your Financial Privacy: The Benefits and Limits of Self-Help  / Research Report
February 2006— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Robert N. Mayer examining how consumers are coping with threats to their financial privacy. While individuals are taking significant actions to protect their privacy, they can't do it alone, the study finds, business and government need to educate the public, develop new privacy protection technologies, and offer credible, well-publicized programs that lower what it costs consumers to defend their privacy. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB118)

In Brief: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records  / Research Report
February 2006— This In Brief, based on the PPI Issue Paper of the same title, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB114)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule and Patient Access to Medical Records  / Research Report
February 2006— This PPI Issue Paper, written by Beth Tossell, Emily Stewart, and Janlori Goldman of the Health Privacy Project, describes the provisions of the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which grants patients access to their medical records (paper and electronic). (36 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-03)

Protecting Your Name: A Survey of Montanans on Identity Theft  / Research Report
February 2006— Becoming a victim of identity theft is a major concern of Montanans. A recent AARP survey finds that over half of Montana’s registered voters are extremely or very concerned about unauthorized access to their financial assets. Almost 80% support legislation that would allow them to place a security freeze on their credit reports. (20 pages)

Louisiana Money Management Needs Assessment  / Research Report
December 2005— Is there a need and support in Louisiana for a volunteer-delivered Money Management Program to assist residents at risk of losing their independence due to an inability to manage their financial affairs? This report of a recent AARP survey of relevant organizations across the state provides data for answering this question. (28 pages)

Manufactured Housing Tenants: Shifting the Balance of Power  / Research Report
June 2004— Owners of manufactured (or 'mobile') homes face unique problems as consumers when they rent a lot in a community for manufactured homes. This report by the AARP Public Policy Institute presents a model statute that addresses these problems. (96 pages) (Publication ID: D18138)

A Public Assessment of the Proposed Mutual Fund Disclosure Forms: A Report on Investor and Non-Investor Views of Form Content and Presentation  / Research Report
May 2004— In this study, more than 2,000 individuals age 35+ evaluated the clarity and effectiveness of two forms (which include both mutual fund "A" share forms and "B" share forms) proposed by the Security and Exchange Commission to give prospective mutual fund investors full information on costs and possible broker conflicts of interest. (158 pages)

Perceptions of the EEOC Ruling Among the 50+ Population: Results of a National Survey  / Research Report
May 2004— This survey found that more than 7 in 10 people age 50+ (73%) disagree with the April 2004 ruling of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that employers may reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they become eligible for Medicare at age 65. (12 pages)

AARP New Jersey Age Discrimination Survey  / Research Report
May 2002— New Jersey residents age 40 and older believe that employers found guilty of age discrimination should be required to pay the legal fees of those who have been discriminated against, and that workers should have the right to certain information about their companies' downsizing plans before signing away their rights to sue for age discrimination. (18 pages)

AARP Vermont Financial Privacy Survey  / Research Report
February 2002— Although they may not fully understand all of their legal rights to financial privacy, Vermont residents age 18 and over feel it is very important that their personal, financial information not be shared without their permission, and would oppose regulations that would allow financial institutions to do so. (14 pages)

An Overview of Managed Care Liability: Implications for Patient Rights and Federal and State Reform  / Research Report
March 2001— The legal principles governing managed care organizations' liability for injuries resulting from treatment decisions are explained in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by law professor Sara Rosenbaum of the George Washington University Medical Center. (23 pages) (Publication ID: 2001-06)

Ensuring Assisted Living Quality Through the Courts: State Policy Issues Regarding A Consumer Private Right of Action  / Research Report
December 2000— In 20 states and the District of Columbia, recipients of long-term care services can sue service providers or government agencies for failing to enforce or maintain minimum standards for assisted living facilities. An AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Bruce Vignery and Dorothy Siemon of AARP's Litigation Foundation. (29 pages) (Publication ID: 2000-22)

AARP Members' Concerns About Information Privacy  / Research Report
February 1999— Responses to an AARP Member Opinion Research survey of AARP members on the privacy of financial information and their views on current practices regarding the selling and sharing of customer account information are reported in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Kristin Moag. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD39)