Ashley Schmidt

Can you think of a volunteer who’s made a significant impact in their community? Who’s always willing to go the extra mile? Who inspires others to volunteer?

Madison Hackney received top honors in the 2016 Grandparent of the Year essay contest sponsored by Kentucky Retired Teachers Association ( KRTA) and AARP Kentucky. Madison and her grandmother, Joy Belcher, received their awards at the Annual “AARP Kentucky Grandparent of the Year” ceremonies in Louisville.

Frankfort is quiet – for now. Kentucky’s General Assembly officially adjourned April 15 after dealing with 941 filed bills and crafting the state’s two-year, $21 billion budget. Every Session is unique and generates compromises, agreements and disagreements on every imaginable issue. For AARP Kentucky, its primary focus this Session was on the needs of the state’s 650,000 family caregivers and the nearly 77,000 retired teachers in the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System.

Chasity T., from Kentucky, has cared for her husband Allen since 2005 when he returned from Iraq injured by an IED blast and suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and nerve damage to his hips and back. She helps him with his daily activities, manages his 14 medications and tries to keep his anxiety and anger levels low. She became a full-time caregiver to her husband in 2010 as his health continued to worsen. She struggles to raise their two daughters, attend to all of her husband’s needs and make his VA appointments.

Older Kentuckians are increasingly plugging into social media, and AARP Kentucky wants to hear what they have to say!

On Saturday, March 5, 2016, the Kentucky Republican Presidential Caucus is being held in 114 of 120 Kentucky counties across the Commonwealth. Voting will take place between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. local time. Only registered Kentucky Republicans are eligible to vote.

You’ve paid into Social Security year after year and deserve to know how the candidates would keep it strong for us, our kids and grandkids. Social Security needs to be updated for the 21st century so we can keep the promise for future generations. If someone thinks they’re ready to be President, they should at least be able to tell us their plans to keep Social Security strong.

Are you a family caregiver?

SAVE THE DATE – Wednesday, February 24, 2016

“I was stressed and worn out. I could not work and take care of him so I eventually took an early retirement. It was the only way I felt I could survive,” said JoAnn.