Today, AARP announced U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett as a recipient of the 2016 “Champion of the 50+” legislative leadership award for his significant achievements during the 114th Congress that benefit the lives of the 50+ and our families. Representative Doggett received his award for preserving seniors’ access to healthcare with his sponsorship and support in the passage of the Notice of Observation, Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act. The law requires hospitals to provide meaningful written and oral …

By Claudia Aguilar After eight months assisting the AARP Texas communications team and bonding with the staff, my time here at AARP has come to a close. As my internship wraps up, I can’t help but reflect on all that I have learned. I always knew I wanted to do something with purpose. At a young age, I told my parents that I wanted to join the Peace Corps and give back. This all started due to a hippie high …

AARP Texas is proud to announce and welcome Melodía Gutiérrez to the Association’s Dallas-Fort Worth team. Gutiérrez, an AARP associate state director of outreach and advocacy, is leading AARP’s work in Fort Worth and surrounding areas. Gutiérrez joined the staff of AARP Texas in late May from the American Association of University Women, an advocacy group that promotes equity and education for women and girls. A recognized team player and consensus builder, Gutiérrez will work closely with AARP volunteers in …

By Mark Hollis Fifty-one years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Older American Act (OAA) into law to help seniors age with dignity and independence in their homes and communities. AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus was instrumental in helping make the law a reality. Today, it remains a pillar of America’s support system for older people. The OAA benefits millions of Texans and other at-risk older Americans through programs like Meals-on-Wheels, health and transportation services, family caregiver assistance, elder abuse …

For her exceptional accomplishments in Fort Worth, AARP’s Carmel Perez Snyder has been named the 2016 recipient of the Association’s Maureen McKoy Award for Excellence in Service. The prestigious award is given annually to an AARP employee who has displayed tremendous leadership by fostering volunteer engagement and community outreach. Carmel led the Association’s work in Fort Worth since 2010, until moving to Oregon last month to be closer to family. Now she holds a similar position for AARP in that …

AARP leaders from the nation’s most populous states gathered in San Antonio this week for talks about the Association’s work in communities, which aims to fully engage members and non-members alike. For nearly three days, AARP Texas volunteers and staff hosted peers from California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Combined, the population of the seven states comprise more than 142 million Americans. The AARP leaders held a broad range of discussions, including conversations about how to strengthen AARP’s …

It’s the season for severe storms in Texas, and AARP is alerting consumers about potential home repair ripoffs and other scams following natural disasters. It’s unfortunate, but the aftermath of a disaster attracts opportunists and scammers. Now is an important time for Texans to ready their homes, families and businesses for the worst that Mother Nature may throw their way–and to protect themselves from fraud. Too often, criminals pose as insurance inspectors, government officials or building contractors to prey on …

Charlene Hunter James, a long-time volunteer and community advocate in Houston, has been named AARP Texas state president. In collaboration with AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson, who announced James’ appointment, James will have the responsibility, starting Jan. 1, of leading the AARP Texas Executive Council for at least the next two years. She also will work with AARP staff and volunteers to establish strategic goals and objectives on a local level that are consistent with AARP’s national strategies. James, 64, …

AUSTIN, Texas – After three decades as an educator, Mary Ragland is drawing from two pensions and modest Social Security earnings to make ends meet in retirement. At 81 and retired for more than a decade, Ragland, a longtime AARP volunteer in Austin, lives frugally but occasionally taps into an IRA to treat herself to short excursions. She considers herself fortunate. “I have neighbors living here in my community who have only Social Security and not very much of that,” …

Austin Mayor Steve Adler drew a smidgeon of laughter from a crowd of about 120 Central Texas AARP members when he told them that not everyone needs to give up their cars and ride city buses in HOV lanes. Rather, he said, just enough motorists should do so to speed up the lane he likes to drive. With a pinch of humor, Adler made a serious case to the AARP-member audience for staggered work hours and telecommuting, expanded transit and …