AARP Policy, Research, and Thought Leadership

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. According to the new Caring Across States report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 60% of caregivers nationally are employed while providing care. But the experience varies widely by state:   ➡️ In Connecticut, 76% of caregivers are working.   ➡️ In Arizona, it’s just 42%. Access to workplace benefits like paid leave and flexible schedules remains limited, especially for hourly wage workers, who make up a significant portion of the caregiving workforce. Without these supports, caregivers often face difficult choices between earning a paycheck and caring for loved ones. During the holiday season, family caregiving responsibilities often intensify. Many are left juggling unpredictable care needs while managing year-end deadlines, reduced staffing, and limited time off. It’s a powerful reminder that better workplace and policy solutions are needed year-round.  📘 Explore the full Caring Across States report ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eMXk8dE3  #FamilyCaregiving #CaringAcrossStates #WorkplaceSupport

𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗣’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 — 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝟰𝟬𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟱𝟬𝘀 — 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆.  As AARP’s Chief Public Policy Officer Debra Whitman explains “We’re so busy with work and raising children and being part of the sandwich generation that we’re not able to really invest in the relationships that can help sustain us and make us happy.” Researchers call this the “U-shaped happiness curve”—happiness dips in midlife but rises again as we age. 📖 Read the Washington Post article here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/euNfyCff Full AARP Research study: Disconnected: The Escalating Challenge of Loneliness Among Adults 45-Plus ➡️ https://lnkd.in/egsfAwBa #Midlife #Loneliness #HappinessCurve #Caregiving #AARP

At AARP, our advocacy is driven by data and the voices of older adults. Recent survey (August 2025) show that older adults (50+) overwhelmingly want universal design features in their homes, making them accessible and livable for people of all ages and abilities. This was also the impetus behind our work on releasing the model ordinance on universal design in housing: HomeFit® Model Ordinance—a free resource designed to help communities create more livable, accessible, and age-friendly homes for everyone! You can access the document here: https://lnkd.in/e33qGa_r. Special thanks to our colleague Joanne Binette in AARP Policy, Research, and Thought Leadership for the amazing work on survey. #HomeFit #UniversalDesign #AgeFriendly #InclusiveLiving #CommunityDevelopment #AARP #AARPLivable #aginginplace

The 2025 AARP Livability Index™ platform is being released! 📅 Join us on December 9, 2025, 3:00pm EST for the official reveal of updated scores, new #community data, and fresh features that show how communities across the U.S. are advancing livability for people of all ages. Register for free now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZiedFSY #livability #livablecommunities #livindex 

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲? Today, 16 million U.S. veterans have served our country—and nearly half are now age 65-plus. As they age, they’re faced with both the universal challenges of aging, as well as the unique needs shaped by their military service. That’s why AARP Research is proud to share “Veterans 50+: The Journey of Aging with Dignity and Strength,” a new, interactive digital experience released in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month. This new data story highlights: 💠 Who our veterans are today—stats by gender, race/ethnicity, location, and more 💠 Key issues faced, e.g., disability, homelessness, health care access, and financial security 💠 Family & caregiving, and how veterans are planning for long-term care Insights from veterans, via video interviews and personal stories 💠 Resources to help vets and their families find benefits and support Our veterans’ stories matter—and understanding their experiences is essential to ensuring they are seen, heard, and supported as they age. Explore the full interactive data story ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eC-hTT3m Cassandra Cantave Burton #Veterans #Military #MilitaryFamilies #Aging #SupportVeterans #HealthCareAccess #ResearchInsights

🏠𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀. As families prepare to gather next week, many family caregivers are juggling holiday traditions with the ongoing responsibility of providing care. New data from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving shows that family caregiver intensity—how much help someone provides based on hours and tasks—is influenced by the level of support available in your state.  While 45% of caregivers nationally provide high-intensity care, the numbers vary dramatically by state. 📍 In Wisconsin, 31% of caregivers are providing high-intensity care.   📍 In Louisiana, that number rises to 53%.   📍 In Georgia, 33% of caregivers provide 40+ hours of care weekly.   📍 In Connecticut, it’s 61%. These differences reflect how local policies, access to services, and support systems impact families. Without strong long-term care infrastructure, families are left to carry the weight of family caregiving alone, often at the cost of their own health and financial well-being. As we enter a season focused on family, let’s also focus on the policies that help families thrive. 📘 Read more about these state-level trends in Caring Across States: https://lnkd.in/eUdxXsea #CaregiverIntensity #FamilyCaregivers #CaringAcrossStates

There’s still time to register for tomorrow's virtual event, “Megatrends Shaping the Future of Work: When and Why Will We Be Working as We Age?” 📅 Thursday, November 20 🕐 1-2 p.m. ET As longer lives become the norm, more people will work well into later life. This session will look at how evolving education models, career trajectories, retirement pathways and new technologies such as AI are reshaping when and why people work as they age. Join AARP's Julie Miller, PhD, MSW, Ginna Baik AOL, Linda Jiang Lyft, and Joao Souto-Maior Stanford Center on Longevity as they discuss what employers, policymakers and workers can do now to build more inclusive, resilient, and age-diverse workplaces. Register now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/enzChX_Q #futureofwork #longevity #olderworkers #workforcediversity

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. According to a new AARP Research study 83% of adults 50+ say passing down financial wealth matters—but not everyone received a comprehensive financial education growing up. Many say they were only taught a few basics about saving and budgeting, while 23% say their families never discussed money at all. Today, many older adults are eager to change that pattern—opening up conversations about money rather than treating it as taboo. As one respondent shared, “My own parents never discussed anything financial, so I really want my children and grandchildren to be better prepared.” Explore more insights on family, culture, and money ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eG7cvkA6 Angela Houghton #FinancialSecurity #GenerationalWealth #MoneyMatters #FinancialLiteracy #Savings

🎙️ Rodney Harrell, PhD, vice president of Family, Home and Community, AARP talks livable communities for people 50-plus with the National Association of REALTORS®’ Center for REALTOR® Development Podcast’s Monica Neubauer, CSP. “Housing that has the accessibility features that people might need as they're aging, housing that's affordable, and housing in the right location that meets all our other needs are the three pieces of the puzzle to create the housing that aging adults need.” Check out this two-podcast series that also covers thinking ahead to future needs when considering housing ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g5etavf #livablecommunities #aginginplace

“Understanding which factors have the greatest impact on dementia puts us in a stronger position to reduce the risk in our communities,” says Juan Rodriguez, AARP’s vice president, #brainhealth “These findings offer clear steps people and communities can take today to support their brain health, promote healthy aging and give older Americans more quality time to live their lives as they choose.” Check out new research from AARP, the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington (IHME) ➡️ https://lnkd.in/esMZjVuq