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Data Center

PPI State Data Center

Data by state on Americans 50-plus: health, financial security, housing, caregiving and more.  Read

events

Solutions Forum:

Promoting Aging in Place

Policies and Practices that Work

Solutions Forum: Launching Health Insurance Exchanges
What are states doing to create exchanges?

Solutions Forum: Improving Health Coverage for Americans 50-64

The impact of health reform—now and in the future.

Solutions Forum: Social Security and the Future of Retirement

What changes can ensure Social Security continues to play a major role in retirement security?

our public
policies

Learn about the policy development process at AARP, and read about AARP's positions on public issues in The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies
2011-2012.
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faces of
chronic care

Faces of Chronic Care, a video produced by AARP’s Public Policy Institute, explores the difficulties faced by many older Americans with chronic health conditions as they (and their caregivers) navigate the health delivery system. Watch

Championing
Nursing

PPI is home to the Center to Champion Nursing in America — a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation — committed to addressing the growing nursing shortage that threatens access to health care and quality of care across the nation.  More

The Public Policy Institute informs and stimulates public debate on the issues we face as we age. The Institute promotes development of sound, creative policies to address our common need for economic security, health care, and quality of life.

 

Learn More About the Public Policy Institute

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Recently
Released

What Medicare Beneficiaries Spend Out-of-Pocket on Health Care

Most beneficiaries spend more than $3000 of their own money each year on health care. The oldest and poorest spend about a quarter of their incomes. read

Chronic Conditions Among Older Americans

Prevalence of the top chronic health conditions among the over 50 population by race and ethnicity read

Two Million Older Workers Unemployed

The employment situation for older workers showed little improvement in April, with older jobseekers unemployed for an average of 60 weeks. read

Congressional Testimony on Reverse Mortgages

Lori Trawinski presented “Oversight of the FHA Reverse Mortgage Program for Seniors” at a May 9 hearing of the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, U.S. House Committee on Financial Services read

Flu and Pneumonia Immunization: Disparities Persist

Medicare beneficiaries can get flu and pneumonia vaccines at no cost, but many don’t. Immunization rates among older African Americans and Hispanics are lower than those for whites. read

Creating Neighborhoods Around Transit

A new PPI video shows how transit-oriented development facilitates the independence and mobility of older adults. Watch

Social Security: A Brief Overview

Key facts on Social Security coverage, benefits and financing—and a look at future prospects for the program. read

The Medicare Program: A Brief Overview

Who benefits from Medicare and what services does the program cover? This fact sheet provides an overview, along with a look at how services are delivered and how Medicare is financed. read

Moving Toward Person- and Family-Centered Care

The advantages of delivering health care and long-term services and supports in ways that address individual goals and preferences, and support family caregivers. read

Social Security: Who's Counting on It?

What long-term solvency of Social Security means for older Americans in general and specifically for women and minorities. read

Social Security: A Key Resource for Women

Social Security is particularly helpful for women who have lower lifetime earnings and, on average, tend to live longer than men. The program currently keeps almost 38 percent of older women out of poverty. read

Rx Price Watch: Retail Drug Prices Outpace Inflation

This AARP Public Policy Institute report by Stephen Schondelmeyer and AARP’s Leigh Purvis finds that the cumulative change in retail prices for a combined set of widely used prescription drugs was almost double the rate of inflation between 2005 and 2009. read

The Case for the Auto IRA

New research from economists at the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute shows adopting the Auto IRA would greatly expand retirement savings opportunities for an estimated one-quarter of the US workforce. read

Setting the Record Straight about Medicare

As the nation considers the future of Medicare, it is important to separate the facts from misconceptions about Medicare coverage, costs to beneficiaries, and efficiency of the program. read

A Call to Action: Meeting the Challenges of Family Caregiving

Ten prominent authors offer recommendations on policies and practices to improve support for family caregivers. read

Money, pill bottle, stethoscope-Health insurance for Americans 50-64

Health Insurance Coverage for 50-to 64-Year-Olds

Adults 50 to 64 face higher health care out-of-pocket costs and declining access to employer-sponsored coverage. read

On the Verge: The Transformation of Long-Term Services and Supports

Many states are turning to managed care for older Americans who need LTSS. This and other trends are revealed in a new report from PPI, NASUAD, and Health Management Associates. read

In
Focus

50+ and Worried

This report by Sara Rix highlights growing concerns about current and future financial well-being. read

How Many Older Americans Live: Ten Facts to Consider

This AARP Public Policy Institute fact sheet by Gary Koenig and Lina Walker provides ten statistics to describe the economic security of persons age 65 and older. read

Recovering from the Great Recession: Long Struggle Ahead for Older Americans

The recent recession has caused high unemployment, loss of income and savings, and lower home values. Four in ten of older Americans surveyed expect a lower standard of living in retirement than that of their parents. An Insight on the Issues report by Sara E. Rix read

More From
PPI

Winter Heating Costs Burden Many Older Consumers

Heating bills remain high for many older consumers this winter, especially those using fuel oil for heat read

Expanding Clinical Trials

Including older, sicker patients in clinical trials would make medical research more relevant for treating these people. read

What Care Works Best For Dual Eligibles?

A report on focus groups held with older Americans who receive Medicare and Medicaid. read

Aging in Place: State Livability Policies and Practices

A survey of state land use, housing and transportation policies and practices that promote aging in place. Written jointly with the National Conference of State Legislatures. read

Protecting Older Investors with Diminished Capacity

This report by Naomi Karp and Ryan Wilson reviews current financial services industry practices and recommends ways to improve protection of older investors. read

Removing Barriers to Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Care: Hospital Privileges

Consumers benefit when advanced practice registered nurses have hospital privileges read

Valuing the Invaluable: 2011 Update - The Growing Contributions and Costs of Family Caregiving

This report estimates the economic value of family caregiving at $450 billion in 2009, up from $375 billion in 2007. The report also details the costs of providing family care, and provides policy recommendations to better support caregiving. read

Protecting Investors—Establishing the SEC Fiduciary Duty Standard

This research report explains how the SEC can strengthen federal guidelines for protecting older investors. read

Housing for Older Adults: The Impacts of the Recession

This report highlights a drop in the percentage of homeowners over 50 who own their homes free and clear and shows rising costs for those who rent or still pay mortgages. An AARP Public Policy Institute Insight on the Issues by Rodney Harrell, PhD. read

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