Stories by Week

In Response to Economic Downturn, AARP Urges Reform of Bankruptcy Laws AARP, the nation’s largest advocacy group representing people over 50, has sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), urging bankruptcy reform and reiterating AARP's strong ongoing support for judicial modification of home mortgages in bankruptcy. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 07:39 AM

Capitol Hill

Committee Releases Findings from 401(k) Target Date Fund Investigation Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) on Wednesday (Feb. 25) held a hearing on the economic downturn’s effect on retirement security, particularly for those who are on the brink of retirement. Witnesses at the hearing offered insight into the myriad factors that are affecting the ability of baby boomers to retire. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 07:25 AM

Kohl Rolls Out Older Worker Agenda, Results of GAO Study on Federal Older Workers Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI), chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, was joined by several of his colleagues in the introduction of three bills to make it easier for older Americans to either reenter or remain in the workforce. In conjunction with their introduction, Kohl released the results of a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the federal government’s efforts to hire and retain older workers, and what policy changes would help them do it better. Login to see complete story
02/25/2009 09:37 AM

Obama Budget Request Proposes Domestic Spending Increases President Obama releases his first budget request for FY 10 that would increase discretionary spending from $1.061 trillion this year to $1.132 trillion. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 11:18 AM

Special Committee on Aging to Examine Economic Impact on Boomers Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) on Wednesday, Feb. 25, will hold a hearing on the economic downturn's effect on retirement security, particularly for those who are on the brink of retirement. Witnesses will cover the weakened performance of 401(k) funds, the instability of housing values, and the challenges of the labor market for older workers, all of which are contributing to diminished prospects for a secure retirement. Login to see complete story
02/24/2009 1:18 PM

Stimulus Package Contains Funding for Programs Benefitting the Elderly The newly enacted American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, funds a raft of important programs benefitting the nation's elderly, including $100 million for meals and nutrition services for older Americans to help them maintain their health and independence. Login to see complete story
02/24/2009 12:34 PM

Federal Agencies

As Baby Boomers Age, Fewer Families Have Children Under 18 at Home With declining fertility rates and the aging of baby boomers, the percentage of families with their own child living at home decreased to 46% in 2008, from 52% in 1950, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 07:58 AM

Funding Opportunities

Deadline Approaches for Senior Medicare Patrol Grants The deadline for grant applications for the 2009 Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program is fast approaching. March 13 is the closing date for this significant funding opportunity. Login to see complete story
02/27/2009 1:11 PM

RWJF Funds Medicaid Leadership Institute The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeks applications for its Medicaid Leadership Institute. The national program provides a unique opportunity for current Medicaid directors to participate in a 12-month leadership development program designed to cultivate the skills they need to transform their state Medicaid programs into national models for high-quality, cost-effective care and coverage expansions. Login to see complete story
02/27/2009 1:21 PM

Housing

Proposal Would Benefit CDBG, Trust Fund, Create New Initiatives President Obama's budget request would fund the Housing & Urban Development Dept. at $47.5 billion, including full funding for the Community Development Block Grant and first-time funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Login to see complete story
02/27/2009 1:36 PM

Industry News

Senior Housing/Healthcare Industry Well Positioned to Deal With Downturn Economists can't seem to decide if the tax cut provisions in President Obama’s stimulus package are too big or small, but together with dramatically lower oil prices (which effectively have the same impact on consumer spending as a tax cut) and interest rates at bargain basement levels, the outlook for the senior housing/healthcare industry could improve dramatically if the president is able to get the credit markets functioning the way everyone hopes they will. Login to see complete story
02/27/2009 07:16 AM

News in the States

States Play Critical Role in Advancing Health Information Technology With e-health initiatives across the country in various stages of development, state governments now have an opportunity to determine the best regulatory and governance framework to support and advance electronic health information technology (HIT)and health information exchange (HIE), according to a new report prepared for the State Alliance for e-Health by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Login to see complete story
02/25/2009 10:20 AM

Research and Reports

CMS: Growth in National Health Expenditures Expected to Slow by 2009 Because of Recession Growth in national health expenditures (NHE) in the United States is expected to significantly outpace economic growth in 2008 and 2009 due to the recession, according to a report issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The report was prepared by CMS’s Office of the Actuary. Login to see complete story
02/25/2009 10:10 AM

Older Women Find Health Benefits Through Volunteer Program African American women aged 60 and older who volunteer in elementary schools are not only more physically active than their non-volunteering counterparts, but seem to sustain this physical activity over time. Specifically, those who volunteered burned twice as many calories as those who did not. Login to see complete story
02/27/2009 07:22 AM

Retirement

Housing Market Meltdown, Stock Market Collapse Threaten Boomers’ Retirement Wealth Turmoil in the housing and stock markets now threatens the retirement security of tens of millions of baby boomers who looked to their houses and investments as sources of retirement wealth. A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows that due to the collapse of the housing bubble, the vast majority of near retirees have accumulated little or no wealth. Login to see complete story
02/25/2009 11:37 AM

Oldest Boomers Found Not Financially Prepared for Retirement A second look at the Baby Boomers who turned 62 last year and a new look at the Youngest Boomers, now turning 45, shows 46% of the oldest group and 57% of those in the younger, vastly larger group are not saving as much as they had hoped. The two groups, part of the same generation, but with 18 years between them, are in very different life stages and do not even agree on whether or not they are Boomers. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 11:12 AM

Survey: Servicemembers More Realistic About Retirement Servicemembers are more practical about their retirement needs than their civilian counterparts, according to a survey conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, Investor Education Foundation, in cooperation with the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Login to see complete story
02/26/2009 08:08 AM

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