AARP Illinois: Nearly 1.8 Million Strong

Mike Spellman, left, and Hilteray McGhee Jr. volunteer at the Vet Center in Evanston. Spellman is also an advocate for AARP at the legislature in Springfield. Photo by Matthew Gilson

A Front Row Seat at the Capitol
Mike Spellman took the leap into advocacy work two years ago, after a turn as legislative chairman of his local AARP chapter sparked his interest in politics. Spellman, 66, a retired Army reservist and nonprofit executive, decided to become a registered lobbyist to advocate for AARP at the legislature in Springfield. More >>

State Budget Cuts Hurting People From Coast to Coast
The most vulnerable groups—elderly, disabled and children—are hardest hit when 41 states make midyear budget cuts in health, education and state government workforces in 2009.  More >>

A Passion for Softball Keeps Players Young
Fifty-five years after falling in love with softball, Marilyn Mallery now plays in a competitive senior league. She will be among 2,000 athletes on 168 teams competing Nov. 10-15 in Fort Myers, Fla., in the 50 and older Winter National Championships. This is the first event of the 2010 Senior Softball USA season.  More >>

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Cindy DeLain, third from left, is the dean of nursing at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif. Nursing students learn clinical skills by working on mannequins in the lab from instructor Bill Pagh. Photo by Justin Kase Conder

Not Enough Instructors to Train Nurses
If you wind up in the hospital today, you’ll see plenty of nurses. Looks are deceiving in this instance. “Because of the recession, some people are becoming complacent that there is not a nursing shortage,” said Brenda L. Cleary, a registered nurse and director of the Center to Champion Nursing in America, a collaboration of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More >>

• Biologics: Why No Generics?
• July-August Issue: Unlimited Influence? Campaign Money Talks

State-by-State Resource Guides
• Guide to Health Care Provider Performance
• List of No-Call Registration Info
• Guide to Transportation Assistance
• Guide to Nursing Home Performance Data

Local Resources
• Citizens Utility Board
• Illinois Department on Aging
• Illinois Retired Teachers Association
• Illinois General Assembly