Issue Position: Aging with Dignity

Issue Position

"Elder is an honorific that doesn't come with age--it comes with universal acknowledgement of wisdom. The mentorship of elders is what got me here." -Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Our seniors were hit especially hard by COVID-19 and will continue to feel the effects long after normal life returns. We must do all we can to ensure they can live their lives with Respect, Independence, and Health.
No sector of our population has been hit harder by COVID-19 than those over the age of 65, particularly those living in long-term care facilities.

Nursing homes are meant to be safe places for the elderly population to receive residential care and age gracefully. But, all too often, that's not the case. Across the country, about a third of all COVID-19 deaths have occurred at nursing homes and adult care facilities.

One way to address the lack of quality long-term facilities is to enable our seniors to age at home. Alexandria supports expanding Medicaid to include home health care, so seniors can stay in the homes they love and age in place.

Alexandria also believes we should continue to build affordable housing complexes for low-income seniors - like the HANAC Corona Senior Residence in Queens. The Corona Senior Residence is a model for the country to follow because it is one of the largest low-income senior housing developments in the nation to meet Passive Housing Institute Design Standards, which cut energy consumption by up to 90%.

The Congresswoman also believes we must protect, strengthen, and expand Social Security and Medicare -- and increase access to affordable prescription drugs. She is fighting to ensure that wealthy individuals pay the same percentage of their income into Social Security as middle class and working families. And, she's working to end price gouging and monopoly practices by pharma companies.

Alexandria supports:

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid expansion;
A living wage, training and safety equipment for elder-care professionals; and
The freedom of choice for elderly people to age with dignity, and comfort.

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