How AARP is Working for You

Illinois workers will soon be able to take time off to drive Mom to the doctor, stay home with a sick child or tend to their own health — without worrying that their paychecks will suffer.

We applaud state lawmakers for passing the Paid Leave for All Workers Act last week. The bill guarantees private-sector workers at least five days of paid leave a year to use for any reason, including caregiving. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated he will sign the legislation, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

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Want to help older adults feel loved and special this Valentine’s Day? Cupid Crew, a nationwide network of volunteers, will deliver cards and roses to hundreds of thousands of older adults around the country Feb. 14.

Wish of a Lifetime from AARP has been leading the effort for a decade, sparking connections between generations and injecting cheer into the holiday for older adults, including those in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. 

The program aims to combat the social isolation and loneliness that reached crisis proportions during the pandemic.

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In 2017, Gloria Single, an 82-year-old person with dementia, was sent to a hospital by her Sacramento nursing home after she grew upset and allegedly threw utensils at residents in the dining room. Within hours, the hospital evaluated her and cleared her to leave, but her nursing home, Pioneer House, barred her from returning — a move often referred to as “resident dumping.”  ​​

Single’s son, Aubrey Jones, challenged her discharge before the California Department of Health Care Services, and prevailed, prompting an order that the facility readmit his mother. But Pioneer House and its parent entity, Retirement Housing Foundation, did not readmit her. ​​

AARP Foundation filed suit against the nursing home on Single’s behalf in 2017. In 2021, a California court agreed her rights had been violated. Last week, that same court issued a sweeping final order for the case, declaring that any facility’s refusal to accept a resident back from a hospital “constitutes an involuntary transfer under state and federal law.”  ​ 

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We made great progress in 2022 on behalf of family caregivers, but more work needs to be done to really provide them – and those who count on their care – the support they require. The adequacy of assistance and resources still depends on where you live.

So as 2023 legislative sessions begin around the country, we’ve planned an ambitious advocacy agenda to build on our thousand-plus victories in 53 states and territories since 2014.

On Capitol Hill and in state capitals, we will continue to push for measures that make providing care easier, alleviate caregivers' financial challenges and improve their health and well-being.

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Family caregivers are the backbone of long-term care in this country, providing $470 billion in unpaid care a year — managing medications, helping with bathing and dressing, preparing and feeding meals, arranging transportation to medical appointments, handling financial and legal matters and much more. They are the ones who help make it possible for older parents, spouses and other loved ones to live independently. Without them, an already stressed system could crumble. 

In 2022, we helped make finding and providing care easier by increasing options in homes and communities. We pushed for reforms to help family caregivers balance care duties at home with demands of the workplace. And we made progress on initiatives to educate and train family caregivers. 

All told, 44 states around the country — red, blue and purple — approved 176 measures to make life easier for family caregivers and their loved ones, all championed by AARP state offices.

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We’re proud that our advocacy on behalf of older adults living in Washington, D.C., helped steer $5.2 million in the city’s 2023 budget to helping combat senior food insecurity and easing social isolation among older D.C. residents.

“Throughout 2022, AARP DC and its 83,000 members advocated on behalf of all District residents for policies that help empower people to improve their lives and choose where and how they live as they age,” said Louis Davis Jr., AARP DC state director. “This past year we were able to attain significant victories for District residents.” 

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Older Americans spend more on technology than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic — and they’d buy even more if the devices were easier to use and better tailored to their needs, according to a new AARP survey.

More than 7 in 10 consumers age 50-plus made at least one tech purchase in 2022, and they spent $912 on average. That’s up from just $394 four years ago, according to AARP’s “2023 Tech and the 50-plus” report.

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An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia diagnosis. They often need specific types of care from family members and loved ones and are at risk for abuse and neglect — which is why we believe first responders should be better trained to help people living with dementia and their caregivers.  

We applaud Ohio lawmakers for passing — and Gov. Mike DeWine for signing this week — a bill to provide police officers and certain emergency service providers with optional training on how to recognize, interact with and better support people living with dementia. An estimated 220,000 people in Ohio live with a dementia diagnosis, who are cared for by more than 420,000 family caregivers. 

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