Alissa Brammer

Increasing supports for the more than 540,000 Iowa family caregivers so they can more confidently care for their loved ones in their homes and communities tops the list of priorities AARP Iowa will be working on during the 2015 legislative session. AARP is focusing on passage of model legislation, The Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act to better support family caregivers as they safely help Iowa seniors stay at home.

During this season of sharing and giving thanks, AARP recognizes the silent army of Iowa family caregivers and partner organizations that provide the assistance they need to manage their caregiving responsibilities.

As part of its mission to inform the community on progress toward Greater Des Moines being recognized as an “Age Friendly City”, project leaders hosted the second annual report to the community on Friday, Dec. 12 at in the Olsen Education Center at Des Moines University.

Des Moines area residents are invited to attend the Second Report to the Community of the Greater Des Moines Age-Friendly Community ‘Great Places for All Ages’ initiative on Friday, Dec. 12, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Des Moines University Olsen Medical Education Center, 3200 Grand Ave.

DES MOINES – Jeannine Liljedahl, of Essex has been named the 2014 winner of the AARP Iowa Andrus Award for Community Service, the Association’s most prestigious and visible award for volunteer service.

During the 2014 General Assembly, AARP worked with the Iowa Bar Association and other interested groups to secure passage of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) to help curb the growing problem of elder financial abuse. Senate File 2168 passed both the Iowa Senate and the House unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad effective July 1. This Iowa version of the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA) will better protect Iowans against financial exploitation while at the same time make it easier for Iowans to plan for the financial future

Iowa is home to more than 500,000 caregivers who assist their ill and aging loved ones with daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing. By performing these necessary tasks, caregivers help ensure that their loved ones stay at home—where they belong—while saving Iowa’s Medicaid system an estimated $4.1 million in long-term care charges annually.

Last weekend, I asked my friend Liz if she and her two boys would take the “Can you walk to get your groceries?” challenge with me. I had gotten the idea from a CityLab blog, and decided it would be a fun thing to do with my friend. We thought we’d be evaluating the built environment near her home, but we ended up testing much more than the sidewalks and curb cuts that day.

My grandma turned 90 on Sunday, and that morning we headed south to the First Christian Church of Fort Madison, Iowa, where she attended services weekly for decades. During that four-hour drive, we never turned on the radio. It was one of those limited opportunities when I had my grandma to myself, and I was able to be fully present. Her perceptions of how technology has changed in her lifetime got me thinking of the ways in which livable communities can preserve aspects of humanity that at times appear lost.

As part of AARP's 2014 voter engagement campaign in Iowa, State President Tony Vola is leading a 15-city "Pizza & Possibilities" informational tour. Vola is traveling the state to talk with members and the public about how AARP is working in Iowa to improve financial security, warn against fraud and scams, and encourage voter engagement on important issues.