Ahead of next Tuesday’s primary election, a new poll shows many Maine residents are extremely motivated to vote and reveals the issues that matter most to them.
More than 90% of Maine voters said they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supports protecting Medicare and Social Security from cuts.
Noel Bonam, state director of AARP Maine, which commissioned the poll, noted that 88% of voters over 50 said they plan to vote in this midterm election, and said that it was a big problem because usually the voter turnout is low in mid-term elections.
“A lot of people are really concerned about the rising cost of everything,” Bonam observed. “Inflation has really come out as the number one issue across the board. People are very concerned about rising costs, they have to figure out how to pay for food, gas, utilities and prescription drugs. .”
He added that with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, many older Mainers are taking seriously the issue of allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Of voters polled, 91% said they thought the federal government should allow negotiations.
Among respondents, 60% said they planned to vote on Election Day, 12% said they would vote early in person, and 22% said they planned to vote by mail. Bonam pointed out that for more information, voters can go to the Secretary of State’s website or aarp.org/mevotes.
“We want older voters to know how to vote and where to vote,” Bonam explained. “And knowing where candidates stand before they vote. And it’s also clear that older voters are looking for candidates who come to the table with solutions and don’t just talk about the problems.”
Governor Janet Mills narrowly leads her Republican opponent, former Governor Paul LePage, 51% to 46%, according to the poll. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from District Two, narrowly leads former Rep. Bruce Poliquin 50 percent to 43 percent, and First District Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree leads Republican opponent Ed Thelander 42 percent to 25 percent.
Disclosure: AARP Maine contributes to our fund for reporting on consumer issues, health issues, seniors’ issues, and social justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of death in North Dakota, prompting state officials to launch an online dashboard, where the public can learn more about the numbers and the resources.
Data compiled from vital records showed that in 2020 more than 500 North Dakotans died of Alzheimer’s disease, up about 100 from 2016.
Melissa Kainz, community clinical coordinator for the North Dakota Department of Health, said it’s no surprise to see those numbers steadily increasing with an aging population.
“People are living longer,” Kainz pointed out. “With this longer lifespan, these rates are consistently found in the older population, and we would just like to have that element of awareness there.”
With the dashboard, she explained that loved ones can sort through links to find information ranging from getting a diagnosis to becoming a caregiver. The site also includes projections of future cases, giving policymakers a public health decision-making tool.
Emerging research has probed methods of detecting the disease before symptoms begin to manifest. In the meantime, Kainz noted that they know it is essential to follow up quickly after the first signs appear.
“Research shows that the earlier people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, the more likely they are to have a better quality of life or live for a longer period of time,” Kainz said.
Some common symptoms include increased memory loss and confusion, and an inability to learn new things. As for the projections, the dashboard showed that annual health insurance claims for the disease are expected to grow from their current average of around 750 to nearly 1,000 by 2035.
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May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and state officials are encouraging Coloradans to get up to speed on emergency prevention and exit strategies if evacuation notices are issued.
Rocco Snart, division chief of planning for Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said it’s never too early to prepare.
Make a list of all the things you need to take with you, including a week’s worth of prescription medication. Then find a place you can go and make plans to get there.
He said you don’t want to be in a rush when you leave your house.
“You want to try and do this on your own terms, to make sure you’ve collected everything you need,” Snart said. “If you need a walker and you have to have it in a vehicle, or you need to arrange for a driver to pick you up, the sooner you can work on those things the better. is.”
Snart said you should ensure your insurance policies and personal identification documents are up to date and make copies for your emergency travel kit – which should also include N95 masks to protect you from the smoke inhalation.
A comprehensive disaster preparedness checklist is available on Ready.gov.
The Wildfire Partners group is working with Mile High Youth Corps in Denver to provide free wildfire mitigation services to elderly residents.
Snart said even small steps can help. Make sure trees and plants are well hydrated, and if you live near open spaces, cut back vegetation to create a buffer zone around your home.
“Make sure all deck materials are supported and not burst,” Snart said. “I mean, a deck with splintered wood and rotting wood looks like a campfire for embers, right?”
Climate change is expected to create longer wildfire seasons in coming years as fires become more frequent and intense. Snart said this new reality can lead to a sense of denial, but he encourages everyone to take the time to prepare.
“It won’t happen in my neighborhood, it won’t happen in my subdivision,” Snart said. “And the reality is, it can happen anywhere. In the Front Range, in the mountains, anywhere there’s fuel and houses next to each other.”
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A formal Texas broadband expansion plan is set to be released on June 15, after state officials traveled far and wide to seek public input on internet access and affordability. .
Tim Morstad, associate state director for AARP Texas, said the pandemic has highlighted that equal high-speed internet access is essential and is no longer a “nice-to-have” luxury.
“We need to have access to high-speed internet, and we need to make sure it’s affordable, and we need to make sure people have the skills to use it,” Morstad stressed. “I imagine it as a three-legged stool to make sure we can really unlock the potential of older Texans.”
Texas lawmakers passed legislation last year to create the Texas Broadband Development Office. Currently, the state has access to $500 million in federal funds through COVID-19 related grants with more money pledged through Federal Infrastructure Act House Bill 3684 11/15/2021.
Texas’ geographic size is a challenge for connecting people to reliable internet, especially in rural areas, but Morstad expects Texans will enjoy the benefits once the job is done.
“For older Texans, he has the ability to unlock things like telehealth,” Morstad explained. “It will also allow older Texans to stay in touch, whether it’s with friends, families or caregivers.”
Morstad added that half of those who belong to AARP Texas are between the ages of 50 and 64 and are still very active in the workplace. This means that if they are looking for a job, they need affordable high-speed internet access to find out what is out there and how to apply.
“And some of them you can work from home, but only if you’re logged in,” Morstad pointed out. “So we really want to see high-speed internet pushed further into our state, so that those opportunities are available to older Texans.”
Later this year, the Texas Broadband Office plans to release a property-by-property map of the state to show where expansion is needed.
Disclosure: AARP Texas contributes to our fund for reports on energy policy, health issues, living wages/working families, and seniors’ issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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