Tennessee AARP volunteers demonstrate support for choices in long-term care; AARP Celebrates National Day of Service on May 11

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- To affirm its commitment to community service and its motto, "To serve and not be served," AARP Tennessee will directly serve our communities during its National Day of Service on May 11. In Tennessee, this year's activities will highlight the urgent need for expanding options in long-term care services provided in our homes and communities.

In many cities across Tennessee, volunteers will partner with (home and community based services programs, such as adult day care and assisted living facilities, to assist these critical programs that provide caregivers some much needed respite and provide important cognitive and physical exercises that keep the mind and body active.

From recent state surveys and reports, Tennesseans believe it is important to have long-term care services that would enable them or their family members to stay at home as long as possible. Tennessee is last in the nation in offering long-term care for the elderly and disabled in their own homes and communities. In 2004, Tennessee spent 99.4 percent of the long-term care budget on nursing home care, with only .06 percent on in-home and community care.

Last year, legislation was approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, SJR 57, which committed the state to offer Tennesseans a range of more cost-effective long-term care services, including adult day care, in-home respite care, and care in assisted living facilities. In addition, the state should create a flexible long- term care budget that pays for nursing home care and allows money to also be available for in-home services. AARP Tennessee is working with the governor and the legislature to make these commitments a reality for Tennesseans.

"We must do more to guarantee that there are real choices about where we can receive long-term care in this state. There are so many families that are struggling to keep their loved ones at home as long as they can, and they need support and more services," said Mary Liz Knish, AARP Tennessee communications director. "We hope that our efforts on May 11 will make a difference, even for a day, in someone's life—and thank the caregivers who do so much everyday."

AARP Tennessee is using May 11 as a day to encourage members and friends to regularly volunteer with local agencies and programs that provide long-term care services. AARP Tennessee invites other organizations and providers to join the Choices for Care campaign to improve the way our state delivers long-term care. For more information, call AARP Tennessee at 866-295-7274 or visit the Web site, http://www.aarp.org/tn.

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With nearly 640,000 members in Tennessee, AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. They produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, their monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, their bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, their quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and their Web site, http://www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need, with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. They have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands