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Livability Index Update – SNAP & Medicare Savings Program – Caregiving by State

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Toward More Livable Communities: The 2025 AARP Livability Index Reveal

Join AARP Public Policy Institute experts Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. for a free webinar event that will feature data and insights from the latest update of the AARP Livability Index™ platform. Marking a decade of providing data to understand and improve community livability, the 2025 AARP Livability Index Reveal will highlight findings on the nation’s top performing places while providing a clear view of trends, priorities, and opportunities in the continuing effort to create communities where all residents can thrive. Get more information and register at the link below.

Millions of Older Adults Are Eligible for Both SNAP and a Medicare Savings Program

More than 5 million adults ages 65 and older are eligible for both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps people buy groceries, and a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which helps with reducing health care costs. But various barriers, including burdensome application processes and lack of program awareness, are keeping many from participating. Ways to boost enrollment among eligible older adults who need the benefits include simplifying application processes, engaging in outreach, and promoting data sharing and aligning eligibility criteria between programs.

Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across States

While caregivers nationwide face emotional stress, health impacts, and inconsistent workplace protections, specific challenges and severity differ depending on where they live, reveals Caring Across States — AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving’s first state-by-state analysis to be included in the Caregiving in the US report series. Potential areas for policy action include strengthening long-term care systems, integrating caregivers into health care delivery, and improving workplace and financial supports aligned with state-level needs.

The Crucial Role of LTC Ombudsmen

For decades, the Long-term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOPs) have served as a primary avenue for long-term care residents and family caregivers to report complaints and concerns about their care. Indicative of their importance, the programs have closed over 200,000 complaints each year in 2023 and 2024 alone. But hours contributed by volunteers, who play a key role in the programs, have plummeted in recent years, causing LTCOP workloads to spike. The trend raises concerns about residents and caregivers’ ability to have their voices heard.

Nursing Home Quality and Safety Trends Across States

More than 1.2 million people in the United States live and receive care in nursing homes, most of whom are older adults ages 65 and older. The AARP Nursing Home Quality and Safety Dashboard provides quarterly state-level snapshots of how nursing homes perform on measures of vaccination rates, staffing levels and turnover, respiratory illness and quality measures, and facility characteristics. Get the latest data, covering July through September 2025.

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