Jason Erskine

Creating Communities That Support Healthy Aging

AARP NEWS

Did you know that Social Security is America’s single most important anti-poverty tool?

By AARP Advocacy Director Ingrid McDonald

When outside temperatures are very high, the danger for heat-related illnesses rises. People's bodies are not able to cool themselves quickly enough, and they overheat. In severe instances, people can suffer heat stroke, which can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Here comes the heat Washington! While many of us are looking forward to some fun in the sun, it’s also a time to be mindful of the dangers posed by extreme heat, especially for the elderly, children and pets.

Women to Women: Living Longer, Living Smarter

This week, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law several bills that are important for people 50+. These include legislation to improve long term care quality and financing, ensure pedestrian safety, expand access to prescription drugs and protect vulnerable adults. Special thanks to the legislators who sponsored these bills and to the AARP members who testified before committees, met with legislators, made phone calls and wrote e-mails in support of these bills. All of the hard work paid off. Here’s what passed:

Consumers lose billions of dollars every year to various kinds of consumer fraud, and according to AARP studies, older adults are especially vulnerable. A 2011 survey of fraud victims found that 81% of investment fraud victims and 84% of lottery fraud victims were over the age of 55.

Think you’re too smart to fall for a scam? That’s just what the con artists are hoping. According to new research, plus interviews with dozens of con artists and thousands of victims, basic consumer smarts are no match for the emotional appeals that clever cons use to defraud consumers of millions of dollars every year. No matter how successful or intelligent, anyone can fall victim to a crime.