News From Alabama

AARP in Your State

November 2009

Skills gap — In a state where education and training have not kept pace with business needs, AARP is encouraging employers to beef up training opportunities, especially for workers age 40-plus.

A recent AARP survey of older Alabama workers found a need to increase their awareness of state and community job training programs and related financial assistance. Almost 500,000 Alabama workers between the ages of 18 and 64 lack a high school diploma or its equivalent.

The current skills gap, coupled with an aging workforce in which many workers want to remain employed beyond traditional retirement age, could hurt the state's economy.

To learn more, go to www.aarp.org/al.

July-August 2009

Tracking infections — Hospitals and other health care facilities will be required to report their rates of infection to the state health department under a new law strongly supported by AARP Alabama.

The Mike Denton Infection Reporting Act (SB 89) was named in memory of the son of state Sen. Bobby Denton, D, who died from a hospital-acquired infection following routine knee surgery. The bill was approved by Gov. Bob Riley, R, in early May. Under the new law, hospitals must report data on surgical site infections, ventilator-related pneumonia and blood infections.

According to the nonprofit Consumers Union, 29 states now have similar reporting laws on the books. Hospital-acquired infections are linked to 100,000 deaths a year nationally. For more information, go to www.aarp.org/al.