ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Yesterday, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand sent a letter to leaders on the Hill, encouraging them to provide $250 in emergency relief to millions of older Americans who are struggling in the current tough economic climate. AARP's support for this measure comes in response to the expected announcement that there will be no Social Security Cost of Live Adjustment (COLA) in 2010.

Here's an excerpt from the letter from Rand:

"Seniors spend a disproportionate share of their income (about 30 percent on average) on health care costs, which continue to increase well above the rate of overall inflation. The combination of higher health care costs, including prescription drug prices, and a stagnant Social Security benefit is particularly troubling and will result in lower net Social Security payments to millions of America's seniors in January 2010."

You can read the entire letter here. We'll certainly stay tuned to see what legislators decide to do for America's seniors on this issue.

In today's AARP News...

U.S. News and World Report highlighted results from an AARP survey that showed that the recession is really taking a toll on older workers in America. With a need for cash now, many people have stopped contributing to their 401(k)s and IRAs. Read the entire article here.

And don't forget about this year's member event - Vegas@50+. AARP is continuing to hype up our star-studded, three-day event taking place October 22-24. We'll have plenty more news on the event as it nears, but for now check out this preview at PlanetEye Traveler.

Have a great weekend!

There is a really disturbing article by the Chicago Tribune about how Illinois has relied heavily on nursing homes to house mentally ill patients. As expected, the result has been numerous crimes committed against the older people living in these homes.

More than any other state, Illinois relies heavily on nursing homes to house mentally ill patients, including those who have committed crimes. But a Tribune investigation found that government, law enforcement and the industry have failed to adequately manage the resulting influx of younger residents who shuttle into nursing facilities from jail cells, shelters and psychiatric wards.

Mentally ill patients now constitute more than 15 percent of the state's total nursing home population of 92,225, government records show, and the number of residents convicted of serious felonies has increased to 3,000. Among them are 82 convicted murderers, 179 sex offenders and 185 armed robbers.

Homes for older adults are supposed to just that: homes. Sharing a living space that is supposed to be a safe haven with individuals (while I'm sure many are not dangerous) who may be harmful or disruptive to a way of living that is supposed to be anything but that.

As the final quarter of the year is suddenly upon us, there is certainly no shortage of news concerning AARP and its members.

First and foremost, it looks like Sen. Baucus' health care reform bill might be voted on before the end of the week! The AP reports that the bill survived challenges from Republican critics over taxes and more on Wednesday - and Baucus seems pretty confident that they will get the through the Senate Finance Committee soon.

The committee is still debating so-called "Cadillac" insurance plans. Sen. John Kerry wants the threshold of plans to which a tax would apply to be higher for retirees and workers in "high-risk" industries. Read this story in the Washington Post about what exactly constitutes a "Cadillac" plan.

AARP was featured in a fun and useful U.S. News and World Report article called "Retired? How to Travel on a Budget." The article gives "9 ways to see the world without breaking the bank," and number one on that list is making the most of senior discounts. Of course, AARP is always negotiating great deals for its members, and the article includes a link to the exclusive Expedia AARP member Web site, www.expedia-aarp.com. Check out the story for all the great tips!

Another interesting story in U.S. News and World Report took a look at ageism in the workplace...and with the unemployment rate of Americans over 55 hitting a post-Great Depression high of 7 percent, older workers don't need stereotypes hindering their ability to find a job. But, the article also notes - sometimes the stereotypes of older workers are not necessarily negative. But wait...are stereotypes ever really a "good" thing? Hmmm...check out the article and see what you think.

My Generation reports on a once-a-year clinic the Remote Area Medical team set up in Wise, VA for the uninsured.
"The situation in the United States is requiring us to concentrate our efforts here in America," founder Stan Brock says.
Watch here.

USA Today featured a big story today on a survey from AARP that showed that Americans aged 45-64 are worried about having enough money for retirement and continued difficulty in paying for basic items such as food. Check out the story for all the startling statistics - there's a lot of anxiety out there about money these days.

In what some are calling a serious setback for President Obama, the Senate Finance Committee voted against the public health care option in Sen. Max Baucus' health care reform bill.

A Roll Call article reports that the White House has been "secretly drafting its own health care legislation that it may unveil at some point during the debate if officials believe it would help secure passage of a bill." Maybe that bill is an answer to the squabbling Democrats who are looking to the President to be the final arbitrator of the public option.

In retirement news, we are edging closer to January 2010, when the law enacted in 2005 - which will let anyone with a qualified retirement plan, such as a traditional IRA or 401(k) left behind at a former employer, shift those funds into a Roth - goes into effect. However, the WSJ reports that many people are confused about how Roth IRAs work. Check out the statistics - only 7% of survey respondents said they will be converting to Roth come January... I bet that number would be a lot higher if more people understood how they worked! Do you understand Roth IRAs? How did you go about learning the ropes?

Here's Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius on the subject of Medicare fraud, which is driving up the cost of care for everyone.

Check it out: