AARP launches campaign to support Family Caregivers – Herb Weiss

RINewsToday

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues AARP Launches New National Campaign Calling for More Support for Family Caregivers With caregiving costs skyrocketing, and with caregivers now estimated to be spending $7,242 annually out-of-pocket, AARP launches a national campaign to push for passage of the Credit for Caring Act. The Washington, DC-based aging advocacy…

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One Year Later – Two Surveys Examine Impact of COVID-19 – Herb Weiss

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By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Over the year the raging pandemic has impacted on the physical and mental health of Americans. With daily COVID case counts now the lowest since last year and hospitals seeing less coronavirus hospitalizations, most states, including Rhode Island, are now opening up. According to the American Psychological Association’s…

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AARP Rhode Island names Catherine Taylor New State Director

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Kathleen Connell steps down after serving since 1999 Catherine Taylor will join AARP Rhode Island on Monday, May 17, 2021 as AARP Rhode Island State Director. She succeeds Kathleen Connell, AARP Rhode Island’s first and only State Director since 1999. After a transition week, Connell will retire May 21.  Taylor most recently served as executive…

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Time to resolve RI’s ongoing Nursing Home staffing crisis – Herb Weiss

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By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues The latest release of AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard shows that both cases and deaths in nursing homes declined in the four weeks ending March 21. Although these rates are improving, chronic staffing problems in nursing homes—revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic—continue. In Rhode Island, 30% of nursing homes reported a…

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Seniors with student loans: AARP’s new online tool to manage debt – Herb Weiss

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AARP’s New Internet Tool Helps Seniors Manage Hefty Student Loan Debt  By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging Over the years, AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) has tracked the staggering amount of student loan debt that seniors are shouldering to help their children and grandchildren finance their higher education. Many people age 50 also take on…

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Age Discrimination, Workplace Issues at House Hearing – Herb Weiss

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By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues Just days ago, Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) introduced, H.R. 2062, the bipartisan “Protection Older Workers Against Discrimination Act” (POWADA), a bill that would strengthen federal anti-discrimination protections for older workers. The legislation was…

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AARP Letter to Gov. MCKee: End EO giving nursing homes immunity

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“It is essential that long-term care providers, as well as health care providers more broadly, remain responsible for any negligent actions to ensure long-term care residents have some protection and opportunity for redress.” AARP Rhode Island State Director Kathleen Connell today Re-Sent a December Letter to Governor Gina Raimondo to Governor McKee Dear Governor McKee,…

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RI Senate Tackles High Cost of Prescription Drugs – Herb Weiss

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by Herb Weiss, contributing writer Photo: Commonwealth Fund In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island General Assembly move to hammer out their Fiscal Year 2022 budget, Senate lawmakers push a package of eight legislative proposals to put the brakes on skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. The Senate…

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