; Georgia
Halting hunger AARP aims to reduce
hunger among Georgians of all ages, especially those 60 and older, by helping people
apply for the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, or SNAP. ; Hunger
is widespread in Georgia, where nearly
17 percent of households reported having
trouble putting enough food on the table
last year. Among state residents age 60 and
older, 21 percent are eligible for SNAP, but
many have not applied. ; AARP is encouraging enrollment through radio and TV
announcements, newspaper ads and—as
SNAP registration sites open across the
state—fliers distributed by volunteers. To
find out if you qualify, call 1-877-957-7627
toll-free and ask about SNAP.
; Mississippi
Building bridges With a $42 million
grant, the state’s Bridge to Independence
program will begin in 2012 to move some
Mississippians out of nursing homes and
intermediate care facilities and allow them
to receive supportive services in their own
homes instead. Administered by the state
Medicaid program, this “money follows the
person” project aims to help people leave
institutional settings if they do not need
extensive help with daily activities such
as eating, bathing and taking medications.
; AARP has long supported home- and
community-based alternatives to nursing
home care, and AARP surveys have found
most people would prefer to age at home.
To learn more, go to aarp.org/ms or call
1-866-554-5382 toll-free.
; Puerto Rico
Smart solutions AARP is working with
Citizens Agenda, an effort spearheaded by El
Nuevo Día newspaper to encourage Puerto
Ricans to propose legislative solutions to
problems that affect them and their families.
; At a recent forum, AARP staff and volunteers discussed the needs of residents age 50-
plus, including more options for long-term
care, improved care in residential facilities
and support for grandparents raising grand-
children. Also discussed was enforcement
of a 2010 “complete streets” law, which calls
for making roadways safe for pedestrians,
cyclists and people with disabilities, as well
as motorists. AARP staff and volunteers will
continue to attend community forums to
keep the concerns of voters 50-plus on the
agendas of candidates and elected officials,
said José Acarón, AARP state director. ; To
learn more, visit aarp.org/pr.
; Arkansas
Friendly roads To make it easier for
motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and people
with disabilities to share the roads in Arkansas, AARP cosponsored “walking audits” in
five cities this fall. ; Led by Dan Burden,
executive director of the nonprofit Walk-able and Livable Communities Institute,
the audits were conducted in El Dorado,
Harrison, North Little Rock, Siloam Springs
and Springdale. Burden also met with community leaders and local residents to discuss
the audit results and ways to overcome barriers to active living. ; For more on how the
AARP state office is helping communities
become more livable, visit aarp.org/ar.
; Virgin Islands
Built for life U.S. Virgin Islanders who
build or remodel their homes for easy
access by people with limited mobility
are now eligible for a 10-year, 20 percent
discount on property taxes. The legislature
unanimously passed the measure in October, and Gov. John deJongh Jr., D, signed it
into law in November. ; For years, AARP
has urged lawmakers to adopt the “
visit-ability standards” outlined in the law as a
way to reduce the costs of long-term care
and the need for more nursing home beds.
To meet the standards, a home must have
features such as a step-free entrance with
a 36-inch door, 32-inch interior doors and
a wheelchair-accessible bathroom on the
first floor. ; For details, go to aarp.org/vi.
—Reports by Donya Currie
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.
