Jodie Spears

AARP Arkansas’ Community Outreach efforts depend on dedicated volunteers who help people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities; strengthen communities; and fight for the issues that matter–healthcare, employment security and retirement planning.

Tour Bus provides health tests, assessments, education and consulting services for FREE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3MPxCnrHUo[/youtube] On a windy, sunny October day, the front of the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock was the scene of the Tenth Annual Residents' Rights Rally hosted by the Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents. The Rally, designed to spotlight and honor the contributions of the Arkansas State Ombudsman Program, featured remarks from AARP Arkansas State Director Maria Reynolds-Diaz; AANHR President Martha Deaver; Kathie Gately, Arkansas State Ombudsman; and Dr. David Montague, Director of the Senior Justice Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is adding volunteers and new curriculum to better serve our members and community. With that in mind, we want to introduce the volunteer coordinator who’s making driver safety his mission in Central Arkansas: Steven Gregory.

http://youtu.be/Wa5jlx_tAyQ[/youtube]As we marked the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, organizations like AARP encouraged people to honor the day by volunteering in their communities. AARP Arkansas State Director Maria Reynolds-Diaz was featured on THV11 in Little Rock about this special day and ideas for volunteering.

As a service to our members, we're posting this informative video to help explain the new Arkansas Health Connector. Starting October 1, 2013, you can shop for and compare health insurance plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Making retirement plans is a little like periodic visits to the dentist. A lot of people put it off because of potential for discomfort. Some simply don’t prioritize it. Still, it feels good once it’s taken care of. The trick is to get motivated and follow through.

AARP Arkansas' Community Outreach efforts depend on dedicated volunteers who help people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment security and retirement planning.

The donations keep growing and Arkansans 50+ are in less danger of going hungry now, thanks to AARP’s Stamp Out Hunger 2013 Drive. Conducted in association with the U.S. Postal Service and National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger 2013 netted a record 699,905 pounds of non-perishable food--nearly 350 tons, topping the 2012 tally of 689,589 pounds. These numbers add up to hundreds of thousands of meals for hungry Arkansans 50+ across the Natural State.

A “comfortable” retirement doesn’t just happen; it requires attention and planning. That's why AARP Arkansas is offering a a series of FREE Seminars about Planning for Retirement for members who are approaching retirement (happily or anxiously), or want to improve their financial security. We’ll explore some basic retirement goals, sources of retirement income, and how to fill income gaps. We’ll also introduce you to some of the online tools AARP has developed for calculating savings and estimating Social Security benefits.