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PPI Homepage Healthcare Month

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Welcome to the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI).  This month we are highlighting our work on health care that speaks to empowering consumers, particularly older adults. 

Prescription medications are a significant part of health care for older adults. Adults ages 65 and older take, on average, 4.6 medications per month. Close to one-fifth of them take 10 or more drugs. Millions experience adverse drug events as a result of high medication burdens. Improving medication literacy among older adults is one important strategy for reducing not only adverse events but also the costs to consumers and to the health care system. Another strategy for reducing the risks associated with “polypharmacy” is deprescribing, that is reducing or eliminating certain drugs that may be causing harm. Deprescribing should be integrated into routine medical care, and an ongoing conversation between consumers and providers.

Of course, prescription medications offer great benefits that all consumers should be able to access. Read some of our recent blog posts about the problem of high and growing drug prices, and some possible solutions. 

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The AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) promotes the development of sound, creative policies to address our common need for economic security, health care, and quality of life. Learn more about our heath and other issue areas below. 

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Our Issues

Social Security. Medicare. Health costs. Consumer fraud. Caregiving. Aging in your community. Find analysis and perspectives on these and other issues from experts at AARP Public Policy Institute.

Events

The AARP Livability Index scores every neighborhood and community in the US for the services and amenities that affect people’s lives the most. Join us for AARP Livability Index Week, April 18-22, as we explore the groundbreaking tool live in a series of deep-dive conversations focused on three of the seven core elements of the Index – housing, transportation, and engagement. 

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New Reports

2022 Social Security Quick Fact Sheets

Payroll Deduction Retirement Programs Build Economic Security

Boosting SNAP Participation Among Older Adults to Reduce Food Insecurity (3 paper series)

June 2022 Employment Data Digest

Working Collaboratively with Retailers to Fight Gift Card Fraud

Initiatives

We collaborate with other organizations to find policy solutions for problems facing older Americans. Some of these major initiatives include: a focus on jobs, unemployment and work opportunities for the 50-plus; an effort to change the way health care organizations and professionals interact with family caregivers; and a near decade-long push to transform health and health care through nursing.

Experts

Our experts cover a wide range of issues from Social Security and Medicare to health reform, livable communities, consumer protection, long-term care, caregiving, financial security and more.

AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard

AARP fought for public reporting of nursing home COVID-19 cases and deaths. Using this data, the AARP Public Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio, created the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard.

   

Policy Plus Action Newsletter

Issues that affect older adults are many, and the AARP Public Policy Institute understands how they all connect. Powered by that expertise, Policy Plus Action newsletter gives you the full aging-issue landscape so you stay informed on your areas of interest plus see how they interact other issues.

About AARP Public Policy Institute

The Public Policy Institute is the focal point of public policy analysis and development at AARP. We work to design policies that help improve life for older Americans.

AARP Livability Index: Great Neighborhoods for All Ages

This important resource helps communities assess how well they're meeting the needs of people as they age.

   

AARP Public Policies

Learn about AARP’s policy positions and our policy development process.

Building a Healthier America through Nursing

The Public Policy Institute is home to the Center to Champion Nursing in America, a joint initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The center coordinates the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide initiative of those same organizations to transform health and health care through nursing.

Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard

This scorecard ranks each state on its ability to provide long-term services and supports for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers, with the goal of improving service delivery and lives.

Award-Winning Policy Now Video Series Highlights PPI Research

AARP Policy Now videos explain high-level research findings from PPI reports in clear, accessible ways.

The Public Policy Institute is home to the Center to Champion Nursing in America, a joint initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The center coordinates the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide initiative of those same organizations to transform health and health care through nursing.

Connect With Us

Thinking Policy Blog

AARP Public Policy Institute experts  blog about the issues they cover, from financial security and Medicare to livable communities and long-term services and supports. Read the latest.

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Social Media

AARP PPI Facebook

Twitter: @AARPpolicy

Blogs by Susan Reinhard

Susan Reinhard is senior vice president and director of AARP Public Policy Institute. Read her latest blogs on family caregiving, healthy living, nursing and more. Read Susan's Blogs