As of November 1, 2025, millions of Americans—including many older adults—may not receive their monthly food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This disruption affects individuals living on fixed incomes, many of whom rely on SNAP to afford groceries and maintain their health.
Find upcoming election dates, registration deadlines and voting options in Virginia, such as absentee voting, early voting or voting with a disability.
Over 1.5 million Virginians currently serve as family caregivers, experiencing emotional stress, fatigue and financial strain as a result of their role. The recent Caregivers’ Re-Treat held in Haymarket provided some with an opportunity to step back from their caregiving duties and take a little time for themselves.
Caregivers in Virginia have an abundance of resources available through the Virginia Navigator (https://virginianavigator.org/) family of websites. That was the primary message of a webinar conducted recently featuring Cindy Markham, a community outreach specialist for the Navigator sites.
The holiday season usually means fun with friends and family, goodwill and giving. Unfortunately, it's also a prime time for cybercriminals to perpetrate fraud. Here are some common holiday scams to look out for this holiday season:
If anyone needs care more than anyone else at times, it is the full-time caregivers themselves, those who care for many, most or all of the needs of a loved one. With that goal in mind, and within National Family Caregivers Month, AARP gave Roanoke-area caregivers a break that featured activities, information and support. How about chocolate tasting, aromatherapy and massages for starters?
Family caregivers, volunteers working with older adults and professionals in aging services gathered Nov. 22 for the 39th annual Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium Caregiver’s Conference, an annual event to help them connect with each other, learn new ways to engage with people with dementia and be better prepared to provide care and support.
Caregiving can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Planning is the most important aspect of caregiving that will assist caregivers as their loved ones’ age. If planned correctly, older adults will have much input in the decisions concerning them. At a recent AARP Virginia webinar, participants were reminded that it is a process, and having the right tools will make the process less complicated.
At the start of World War II, German U-boats were inflicting heavy losses on Allied ships. The Nazis coordinated their attacks by sending coded messages using an encryption system that “seemed to be unbreakable,” said Dan Sherman, an AARP Community Ambassador and expert on the subject.
Social media can make it feel like we’re closer than ever to our favorite celebrities. But if a musician, actor, or athlete you admire suddenly sends you a private message, don’t get starstruck—get skeptical. It’s almost certainly a scam.