Jeremy Barewin

Today, AARP announced the launch of ‘ Stop Rx Greed,’ a nationwide campaign aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The goal of AARP’s sustained campaign is to help drive down drug prices for all Americans by advocating for a variety of legislative, executive, and regulatory actions at both the federal and state level.

Discard old confidential documents safely and securely at our FREE Shred Day in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines . Bring up to three boxes of documents (per household). Staples and paper clips are fine, but all binders need to be removed. No registration is needed.

The Social Security Administration is using new public service announcements to warn Americans about the increasing number of telephone scams and to advise what to do about them.

In life, we all get a bit rusty, eventually. One friend needs a hip replacement and another is recovering from neurosurgery on his lower back. I have had surgeries to repair each of my shoulders and am planning on getting other procedures to essentially repair what is malfunctioning due to wear and tear. In other words: I’m getting old. Aging into the sixties and beyond immerses nearly everyone into an expanding world of medical maintenance. Whether our friends, family or ourselves, repair of aging ‘systems’ is a reality for most people.

During tax-filing season, it pays to be aware of the ways that scammers and hackers may try to put your potential refund in their pocket.

This past week, AARP Iowa hosted a live teletown hall on Public Measure A - the local option sales tax in Des Moines, which local residents will vote on at the polls next Tuesday, March 5. AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson was joined on the call by Christine Hensley, former Des Moines City Council member and Joe Van Haalen, president of Des Moines Firefighters IAFF Local 4.

AARP is now accepting applications for the 2019 Community Challenge grant program to fund “quick-action” projects that spark change in local communities. The grant program, which is now in its third year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.

One of the first cons to flourish on the internet, the “Nigerian prince” scam, also known as the “419” scam (named for the section of Nigeria’s criminal code dealing with fraud), has an ignominious history that long predates the digital age. Its roots go back to a notorious 19th-century swindle called the “Spanish Prisoner,” and the method of attack has progressed from letters and faxes to emails and social media.

Despite the inclement weather outside, the Iowa State Capitol was turned into a sea of red vests and red hearts this morning as more than 60 AARP Iowa volunteer activists and a large coalition of healthcare advocates from across the state rallied for support of the 2019 Iowa CARE Act (SF 210/HF 340), a common-sense bill to help Iowa’s 317,000 family caregivers. The CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable) Act was passed earlier this month in the Senate Human Resources Committee and is awaiting the vote of the full Senate. The bill passed a House Subcommittee, led by Rep. Cecil Dolecheck (R-24) earlier today.

This past Wednesday, AARP Iowa hosted a teletown hall event featuring the 2019 Iowa CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable) Act. The bill features four important provisions. The name of the family caregiver is recorded when their loved one is admitted into a hospital, if a patient chooses to designate one. Second, the designated family caregiver is notified when their loved one is to be discharged back home. Third, the hospital discusses the caregivers’ abilities and limitations. Finally, the hospital discusses the patient’s care needs at home and provides an explanation and live instruction on the medical tasks to be performed – such as medication management, injections, wound care, and transfers.