AARP Arizona wants long-term care facilities in the state to do more to ensure the highest level of care for their residents, including being held accountable for any mishaps or deficiencies. Brendon Blake, director of advocacy for AARP Arizona, said it is crucial for people in long-term care settings to be given the first-rate care and respect they deserve. In addition to the issues of neglect, staffing shortages and low wages often making the news, Blake noted there is a lack of accessible data about the facilities. .
In a new poll, 25% of voters say they have "personally experienced or witnessed discrimination in health care due to race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion or sexual orientation." The poll, sponsored by Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life care advocacy group, included 1,600 voters from across the United States. "It was striking that one-quarter of voters report that they personally experienced or witnessed discrimination in health care, with an even higher 35% among Black people, 29% among Hispanics and 41% among people who are LGBT," said pollster Amy Simon, a partner at Goodman Simon Strategic Research. "That translates to millions of people who are experiencing health-care discrimination." Negative experiences included patients who said they don t feel heard or have been prescribed insufficient pain medication to ease suffering. " .
Advocates for unpaid family caregivers in Maine say they ll need continued support beyond the recently passed paid family and medical leave program. Caregiving can be a full-time job with many out-of-pocket expenses, like paying for gas to get to a doctor s appointment or ensuring a parent has enough food in their fridge. Bridget Quinn, associate state director for advocacy and outreach with AARP Maine, said state grants to help caregivers with up to $5,000 in expenses will end next year, and lawmakers need to start considering ways to ensure that help continues. .
Many older residents of Washington state are facing strains on their budgets and the government programs that could assist them are underused. An assistance program like the Senior Property Tax Exemption is a prime example. King County Assessor John Wilson cited the median value for a home in his county as about $790,000. .
Child care access has become a major focal point in the U.S., and South Dakota is no exception. More than two dozen communities are using grant money to come up with local solutions in hopes of expanding options for families. Earlier this week, the governor s office announced more than $1 million in funding will be shared by 28 economic development groups around the state. .