; Massachusetts
Looming deadline The clock is ticking for more than 11,000 older people who
depend on adult day health services to live
independently. Although Gov. Deval Patrick,
D, included $35 million for such services in
his proposed supplemental budget, legislators must approve the funding by Dec. 31.
; Adult day health services provide preventive care, chronic disease management and
other medical and therapeutic services in a
community setting. AARP and other advocacy groups have fought to preserve these
services since funding was cut from the 2012
budget, which took effect in July. ; “Time
is running out,” said Deborah Banda, AARP
state director. “If nothing is done, more
than 20 percent of these people will have
an immediate need for nursing home care.”
; To urge legislators to fund adult day health
services, call 1-888-259-9789 toll-free.
; New Hampshire
Fair share In one of the fastest-aging
states in the nation, AARP is pushing to
shift more taxpayer dollars earmarked for
long-term care to services that can help
people continue to live independently in
their own homes as they age. ; A recent
AARP scorecard shows New Hampshire
ranks 43rd among the states in the percentage of funding spent on such services.
Currently, about 80 percent of the state’s
long-term care money goes to institutional
care, and only 20 percent to home- and
community-based services. ; Increasing
the allocation for cost-effective in-home
care is AARP New Hampshire’s top priority
for 2012, and the state office is asking members to help. Volunteers will speak with
legislators, attend public hearings and hold
lawmakers accountable for their votes. To
get involved, email nh@aarp.org.
; Rhode Island
Supporting nurses Two recent
developments bode well for nursing quality in Rhode Island. ; The Rhode Island
Nurses Institute Middle College opened in
September, allowing high school students to
earn college credit toward a nursing degree.
Donna Policastro, an AARP state executive
council member, helped establish the charter school, which is the first of its kind in the
nation. ; In October, the Center to Champion Nursing in America selected a Rhode
Island coalition as one of 35 nationwide
working to expand access to health care,
with nurses playing a vital role. The effort is
sponsored by AARP, the AARP Foundation
and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Visit championnursing.org to learn more.
; Connecticut
Financial security AARP is working
with public television network CPTV to
produce and broadcast a town hall meeting
called “Retirement Realities.” Viewers will
have an opportunity to ask a panel of nonpartisan experts about proposed changes to
Social Security and Medicare, the decline
of traditional pension plans and how efforts
to reduce the national debt could affect
retirement. ; The one-hour forum will
air live at 8: 30 p.m. on Dec. 15 and will be
rebroadcast twice. To ask questions, call
1-800-842-2788 during the live show or
email retirement@cptv.org in advance. For
more information, go to aarp.org/ct.
; Maine
Good job Cianbro, a construction firm in
Maine, is one of 50 companies nationwide
named as AARP’s 2011 Best Employers for
Workers Over 50. ; The awards recognize
age-friendly employment practices. Cianbro,
for example, uses senior placement agencies to recruit experienced workers and
rehires its retirees to train new employees.
In addition, the company offers a wellness
program, good health benefits and a college
tuition reimbursement program. One in
three Cianbro employees is age 50 or older,
and workers stay with the firm for an average of 17 years. ; For the complete list of
award winners, go to aarp.org/work.
—Reports by Will Yandik
aarp.org/states
For other state news, go to
; DatabankUSA
The estimated dollar value of a volunteer hour for
each state, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands for 2009.
Value of Volunteers
Ala. $17.70
Alaska
21. 38
Ariz.
19.48
Ark.
16. 24
Calif.
23.42
Colo.
21.62
Conn.
26.98
Del.
21.88
D.C. 32.79
Fla.
18. 40
Ga.
19.94
Hawaii
17.94
Idaho
15.57
Ill.
22. 34
Ind.
17.61
Iowa
16.77
Kan.
17.80
Ky.
17. 37
La.
18.71
Maine
16.53
SOURCE:
INDEPENDENT
SECTOR;
* VALUE IS BASED
ON THE AVERAGE
WAGE OF NON-MANAGEMEN T,
NON-AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS, NOT
EARNING POWER
OF SPECIALIZED
SKILLED WORKERS
SUCH AS DOCTORS
OR LAW YERS.
