Estimate your federal taxes with our 1040 tax calculator and earn AARP Rewards.

Content starts here

From Prescription Costs to Caregiving: AARP Virginia Brings Aging Issues to the Capitol

Volunteers meet with legislators to advocate for 2026 priorities

Joyce E. Williams,

AARP Virginia

Published February 06, 2026

Virginia state capitol building on a late summer afternoon in Richmond

Getty Images

The halls of the Virginia General Assembly are busy, but among the voices lawmakers heard recently were those of older Virginians and their advocates. On Jan. 21 and 22, volunteers from the AARP Virginia State Advocacy Team traveled from communities across the Commonwealth to Richmond, meeting face-to-face with senators, delegates and legislative staff to press for policies that affect everyday life for millions of Virginians. Their message was consistent and clear: policies that support older adults help strengthen families, communities and the Commonwealth as a whole.

For many volunteers, the work is deeply personal and rooted in AARP’s long-standing social mission. Michael Schuster, an AARP Virginia advocacy volunteer and former AARP and AARP Foundation attorney, explained that his motivation is grounded in the organization’s founding values. Quoting AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, Schuster reflected on “the challenge: to live up to our better selves, to believe well of our fellow men and women, and perhaps by so doing, to help create the good we believe in.” He also pointed to Andrus’s enduring call to “strengthen American democracy,” noting that today’s advocacy work places volunteers squarely within the democratic process at a time when civic values feel especially fragile. After nearly 40 years supporting advocacy efforts from a legal perspective, Schuster said volunteering allows him to engage directly in the work—and, in his words, to “do it better” the second time around.

Seventeen volunteers participated in dozens of meetings over two days, presenting AARP Virginia’s 2026 legislative agenda and sharing real-world impacts behind the bills under consideration. Advocates emphasized that these priorities are rooted in lived experience—both their own and that of the AARP members and broader Virginians they represent. Their focus centered on prescription drug affordability, caregiving and paid family leave, financial security, and the quality of long-term care.

Prescription drug prices remain a defining issue. Advocates revisited legislation to support affordable medicine. Though similar bills passed both chambers in the past two sessions with bipartisan support, they did not become law. This year’s proposal includes refinements, including tying upper payment limits to Medicare-negotiated prices for many Virginians not covered by Medicare.

Most Popular

The stakes, advocates emphasized, are high. More than one-third of Virginians reported skipping a prescription in 2023 because of cost, often forcing impossible choices between medication and basic necessities such as food or rent. Volunteers reminded legislators that public support for the policy is strong, with 84 percent of Virginia voters backing action on drug prices. “No one should have to choose between their health and keeping a roof over their head,” advocates noted. The proposed Affordable Medicine Act—HB483 and SB271—is carried by Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax County, and Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville.

Caregiving issues also featured prominently—and revealed unexpected common ground. Volunteer Mary Jo Fields said she was struck by how universal AARP’s legislative priorities proved to be. Regardless of age or political affiliation, many legislators shared personal stories of caregiving, whether for parents, children, spouses or neighbors. The exchanges underscored that caregiving is not a niche issue, but a shared experience that cuts across generations and districts.

While federal law protects workers’ jobs during family or medical leave, it does not replace lost wages. For family caregivers—who spend an average of $7,000 annually out of pocket—the financial impact can be overwhelming. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Herndon, and Del. Briana Sewell, D-Prince William County, would establish a paid family and medical leave program, allowing workers to receive up to 80 percent of their pay for as many as 12 weeks. Advocates described the proposal as a lifeline for Virginia’s 1.5 million family caregivers, who collectively provide an estimated $14.3 billion in unpaid care each year and form the backbone of the state’s health care system. Supporting caregivers, they stressed, helps loved ones remain at home, preserves dignity and eases pressure on already strained health care systems.

Improving care inside nursing homes was another priority. About 30,000 Virginians live in nursing facilities, which currently rank near the bottom nationally based on federal quality ratings. AARP Virginia supports legislation requiring 3.25 hours of qualified staff time per resident each day, a standard advocates say is essential to ensuring safety and dignity. Advocates underscored that quality depends on adequate staffing—and that residents’ well-being must always come before profits. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico County, is carrying HB605.

The team also addressed the growing threat of fraud, particularly scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks, or “crypto ATMs.” While marketed as tools for buying and selling digital currency, these machines are increasingly used to drain victims’ bank accounts. Proposed legislation would cap daily losses and impose a 48-hour hold for new users, giving victims a chance to recover funds. Advocates shared how these scams disproportionately harm older adults and devastate retirement savings built over a lifetime.

Finally, advocates urged lawmakers to support a budget amendment providing free Certified Nursing Assistant training through Virginia’s community colleges, citing Minnesota’s successful workforce initiative as a proven model. They argued that investing in workforce development is essential to improving care quality and addressing long-standing staffing shortages in long-term care facilities.

As the visits concluded, advocacy team members left Richmond encouraged. They reported thoughtful engagement from lawmakers and a shared recognition that policies supporting older adults ultimately strengthen communities for everyone. For volunteers like Schuster and Fields, the two-day effort affirmed both the power of civic engagement and the enduring relevance of AARP’s efforts to advance a more livable future for all ages through advocacy, service and participation in democracy.

For ongoing updates on Virginia’s General Assembly regarding AARP Virginia’s Legislative Agenda throughout the 2026 session, visit aarp.org/advocacyva.