News From Oklahoma

AARP in Your State

October 2009

Legislative victories — The Oklahoma Aging Partnership recently released its 2009 legislative report on aging issues, announcing three long-term care victories that take effect Nov. 1. One new law instructs the state Department of Health to post a consumer guide to assisted living facilities on its website. Another directs the Department of Public Safety to develop a statewide Silver Alert system to find missing adults. A third establishes an Aging and Disability Resource Consortium to streamline access to long-term care services.

AARP is one of four groups that helped compile the partnership's fifth annual report. To get a copy, go to www.aarp.org/ok or call 1-866-295-7277 toll-free.

September 2009

Steep hike — AARP is pushing back against what may be the largest utility rate increase ever approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

The commission gave a green light in January for American Electric Power Public Service Company of Oklahoma to raise residential rates nearly 8 percent. In June AARP filed a brief with the state Supreme Court, asking that the $81.4 million rate hike be rejected and sent back to the commission for reconsideration. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office and the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers group have filed similar briefs.

Many of AARP Oklahoma's 442,000 members live on fixed incomes, says Craig Davis, associate state director, and for them, "the rate increase is unreasonable, especially during an economic decline."

To sign up for updates on this and other issues, send an e-mail to ok@aarp.org.

July-August 2009

Reaching out online — AARP Oklahoma wants to invite members to its virtual community.

The state office has launched its own YouTube channel and Facebook page to build online communities, update members on legislative issues and increase the number of  volunteers in each of the state's 77 counties. The AARP Oklahoma YouTube channel features legislative updates as well as interviews with lawmakers, physicians, pharmacists and others on topics important to residents age 50 and older.

For more information, visit www.youtube.com/aarpoklahoma, or www.aarp.org/ok. Facebook members can search for AARP Oklahoma at www.facebook.com.

June 2009

On the lookout — A law signed in April by Gov. Brad Henry, D, will create a statewide system to alert authorities when an adult with dementia becomes disoriented and gets lost.

Scheduled to take effect in November, the Silver Alert system will be similar to state Amber Alert systems used to locate missing children. The new system is designed to promote cooperation among the state departments of Transportation and Human Services, local law enforcement agencies and broadcasters, allowing them to share information when an adult with dementia is missing. People who wander away from home or nursing facilities often die from exposure or injury. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Kris Steele, R, and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R.

To learn more, or to help AARP Oklahoma advocate for other important issues, e-mail ok@aarp.org.