Beth Velasquez

New Mexico caregiver Valentin Varela and his mother Ruby were selected by AARP for a special honor designed to highlight and showcase the work that unpaid family caregivers do across the country. In New Mexico 419,000 people provide care at any one time for a family member or other loved one.

AARP New Mexico is pleased to announce that it has awarded its highest honor, the 2015 AARP New Mexico Andrus Award for Community Service, to Ms. Janell Whitlock of Carlsbad.

A year has gone by since a variety of community organizations gathered in Albuquerque to discuss how to end hunger in New Mexico. Still the state’s statistics on food insecurity largely remain the same -- first in the country for child hunger and second for senior hunger.

The New Mexico Adult Falls Prevention Coalition is celebrating Falls Prevention Awareness Day, Wednesday, Sept. 23, by offering screenings and/or education and outreach in the Albuquerque area on how to prevent falls. Seniors and their families are invited to participate.

Medicare and Medicaid will celebrate their 50 th Anniversary Thursday, July 30 th, and the New Mexico Health Care for All Coalition, along with AARP New Mexico and other community partners, is inviting everyone to a special celebration. This free event will take place July 30 th at the Explora Museum, 1701 Mountain Road NW, in Albuquerque, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants can also visit the museum prior to the event.

As the 50-year anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid approaches, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seekng stories about how these programs have changed the lives of Americans across the nation. Personal stories show how our health care programs change the lives of real families and impact communities across the country. They play an important role in bringing public policy to life. We want to illustrate the faces of Medicare and Medicaid consumers in our communities.

You might be a safe driver but did you know that the way your car “fits” you can also increase your safety?

While Memorial Day marks the official kick-off to summer and people’s thoughts turn to travel and family barbecues, AARP New Mexico volunteers and staff will spend part of their summer on the road driving around the state helping to answer people’s questions about Social Security and sharing tips on how to spot a scam and prevent identity theft.

AARP New Mexico will be conducting a Scam Jam this weekend designed to help you protect yourself from identity theft, fraud and scams, all while getting your sensitive financial documents shredded for free. This family oriented event will be Saturday, May 30 th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque.

To many of us getting older means slowing down but that doesn’t have to be the case. Join AARP New Mexico and Dr. Anne Simpson April 30 th for a deep discussion on how staying healthy and engaged in your community as we age can lead to a better life. Dr. Simpson is the director of the University of New Mexico School Of Medicine’s Institute for Ethics.