(Washington D.C., Monday, August 31, 2020) – Older Americans in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities continue to be in grave danger, yet many measures to protect them are still not in place.

AARP is urging lawmakers to act immediately to enact commonsense policies that will save lives.

AARP outlines what the organization is doing to help advocate for those most at risk, and what the organization believes is necessary to help curtail the crisis including:

• Regular and ongoing testing;
• Improved transparency focused on daily, public reporting of cases and deaths in facilities;
• Improved communication with families about discharges and transfers;
• Required access to facilitated virtual visitation, and established timelines, milestones and accountability for in-person visitation; and
• Enhanced quality of care for residents through adequate staffing, oversight, and access to in-person formal advocates.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social mission organization that helps people ages 50 and over live their best possible lives. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. It has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.