Randy Simon

After finding an older woman living in a chicken coop because she couldn’t afford decent housing or health care, a retired educator named Ethel Percy Andrus got angry, then got organized. And in doing so, she radically changed the landscape of America.

Retail prices for many of the most commonly-used brand name drugs by older adults rocketed upward by an average of 8.4 percent in 2017, outstripping the general inflation rate of 2.1 percent. The annual average cost of therapy for just one brand name drug increased to almost $6,800 in 2017.

AARP Idaho announced today that Micki Kawakami of Nampa was selected to receive the 2018 Andrus Award for Community Service, the Association’s most prestigious volunteer award. Each year AARP honors the legacy of AARP founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, with the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. This award is a symbol of the power of individuals to make a difference in the lives of others.

AARP Idaho is taking part in “Be the Difference. Vote,” a multifaceted campaign designed to maximize the influence of Idaho’s 50-plus voters in this year’s elections.

Join us for some Boise State Broncos football!

New research released today from the Association of Young Americans AYA (AYA) and AARP show student loan debt preventing Americans across three generations from saving for retirement or buying a home. As many students begin their academic year, nearly half of those with student loan debt say they owe more than $30,000. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, borrowers have over $1.4 trillion in student loan debt. The new research specifically shows that of those who have student debt, 45 percent of Millennials, 48 percent of Generation Xers, and 50 percent of Boomers owe $30,000 or more.

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families—with a focus on health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. We also work for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen products and services to carry the AARP name.

Right now, PhRMA is trying to convince Congress to rescind a provision of the bipartisan budget agreement that lowers drug costs for seniors struggling to afford their medicine.

When it comes to scams, knowledge is power.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season. Tax-Aide, now in its 51 st year, offers free in-person preparation and assistance to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can’t afford a tax preparation service. Volunteers make a difference in their communities by assisting many older, lower-income taxpayers, and their families, who might otherwise miss out on the tax credits and deductions they’ve earned.