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Sandwich Gen Caregivers – Medicaid Work Requirements – Growing Cost of Necessities

Policy Plus Action | The AARP Public Policy Institute Newsletter

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The Crucial and Challenging Role of Sandwich Generation Caregivers

Nearly 17 million Americans are sandwich generation caregivers. Simultaneously raising children and caring for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability, these Americans pack more caregiving duties into the same number of hours as other caregivers of older adults, making for higher-intensity care that can translate to greater physical, emotional and financial stress. A new report from the Caregiving in the US series focuses on this growing group of caregivers and outlines policy and practice solutions to better support them.

Cost of Basic Necessities Strain Low-Income Older Households

With spending on basic needs such as food and housing growing over time, low-income households with adults age 50 and older now devote 70 percent of their spending to housing, food, and transportation, an AARP Public Policy Institute report finds. These financial pressures underscore the importance of protecting and strengthening social safety-net programs that help low-income households meet basic needs.

Work Requirements Put Medicaid Coverage at Risk for Seriously Ill Enrollees

New federal Medicaid community engagement requirements will affect an estimated 5 million adults ages 50–64. While many midlife enrollees with disabilities and medical conditions may qualify for a “medical frailty” exemption, documentation and verification requirements may jeopardize access to critical health care for many who should be eligible. A recent report discusses “medical frailty” requirements and the impact of new paperwork burdens on enrollees, providers, and state eligibility systems.

From Innovation to Implementation: Replicable Community-Based Care Models for Aging in Place

Limited access to affordable long-term care options hinders many older adults from getting the support they need to remain at home and in their communities, but community-based solutions are emerging. These local programs show promise in helping fill the gap between private-pay care that many people can’t afford and Medicaid-covered care. A recent AARP Public Policy Institute report reviews innovative, replicable community-based long-term care models.

Forty Years in, AARP Public Policy Institute Keeps Fostering Real-Life Change for Older Americans

Now celebrating 40 years of helping AARP lead on aging policy, the AARP Public Policy Institute provides the evidence, analysis and expertise needed to inform decisions, advance advocacy and shape the national conversation on aging.

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