Springfield

Meet the Springfield Intern

Posted on 02/27/2013 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeHey everyone, my name is Jon and I am the new intern at the AARP Illinois legislative office in Springfield. I attend the University of Illinois at Springfield and am majoring in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology. I grew up in Peotone and moved to Steger to live with my grandmother about ten years ago when my grandfather died. I then went on to attend Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, where I studied Political Science and became …

AARP Illinois Out in Force for Day of Service

Posted on 09/21/2012 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeFrom Chicago and its suburbs, to Rockford in the north and Springfield downstate, AARP staff and volunteers were out in force on Day of Service working to make a difference for seniors, veterans and low-income families. Fighting hunger, helping seniors and volunteers, and keeping the memory of 9/11 alive were the main focus points as AARP staffers and dozens of volunteers spread across Illinois to engage in Day of Service projects in Chicago, the Chicago suburbs, Rockford and state capital …

Get Busy for Illinois Cares Rx!

Posted on 06/7/2012 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeWe need to Save Illinois Cares Rx…and we can’t do it without you. This is Jenn reporting from the Illinois communications team. We need your help. Last week our staff, our volunteers, our members, and many of the 160,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities who are able to afford their prescription drugs only because of Illinois Cares Rx, were saddened by the news that this critical program has been entirely eliminated from the state budget. That’s right it’s gone. Starting …

Save Illinois Cares RX!

Posted on 05/24/2012 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeToday an Illinois House committee passed a budget bill that will completely eliminate the Illinois Cares Rx prescription drug program, a program that helps low-income seniors access the prescription drugs they need. THIS IS BAD! Nearly 200,000 Illinois seniors rely on the Illinois Cares Rx program to access the prescription drugs they need to maintain their health. If the program is eliminated, many seniors may be forced to stop taking their medications, and health care costs for Illinois will climb …

Volunteers and Legislators Come Together at AARP Illinois Legislative Reception

Posted on 05/10/2012 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeThank you to staffer Scott Musser for writing the blog post this week!  On Tuesday night after lobbying in the Capitol, AARP volunteers and staff had the opportunity to socialize with elected officials at the first AARP Illinois Legislative Reception in Springfield. Each week during legislative session AARP volunteers from across the state come to the Capitol to lobby on behalf of older Illinoisans and AARP Illinois’ 1.7 million members. “Most of the time our volunteers only see their elected …

Put the Residents of Illinois Nursing Homes First

Posted on 03/7/2012 by | All the news that matters for Illinoisans over 50. | Comments

Your LifeHey everybody – Jenn here from the Communications team keeping you in the loop on what’s up in Springfield this week. Let’s talk nursing home reform… In 2010 the Illinois General Assembly passed landmark legislation to improve the quality of care in Illinois nursing homes. (WOOHOO!) Among other elements, the new law addressed staffing ratios in nursing homes. Studies have shown that staffing ratios play a vital role in the quality of care nursing home residents receive, particularly when it …