Ronda Gooden

New report reveals stress on family caregivers’ health and finances; identifies policies to help support caregivers

AARP Mississippi is accepting nominations until June 30 for its 2015 Mississippi Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Mississippians who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

$81 Million Lost Nationally to Scammers in Just One Year

New law helps 800,000 Mississippi family caregivers and their loved ones

Jackson, MS – (April 2, 2015) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grant program, awarded AARP Foundation a grant of $3.3 million, with an additional $1 million coming from UnitedHealthcare, to implement a multi-year $6.6 million incentive program in Mississippi and Tennessee to increase the purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients. The goal of this program is to increase the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables and to improve nutrition and health outcomes for low-income consumers.

(Jackson, MS) – AARP Mississippi thanks all members of the Mississippi House and Senate for unanimously passing The Caregiver Act (SB 2108) today. The Caregiver Act will help 800,000 Mississippi family caregivers who are taking care of loved ones. The bill now goes to Governor Bryant to sign.

(This story is by Margie Culbertson, an AARP Mississippi volunteer and freelance writer. Her photo is on the left.)

In Mississippi, thousands of family caregivers take care of their loved ones at home. When parents, spouses, or other loved ones go into the hospital, family caregivers can feel confused, rushed, left out, or unprepared to provide the best care when they return home. The Caregiver Act (SB 2108) is a commonsense solution that can make an incredible difference for 800,000 Mississippi residents who serve as caregivers at any time during the year. Family caregivers help their loved ones live independently at home – keeping them out of costly institutions, such as nursing homes.

(Jackson, MS) – On the heels of a new report showing Mississippi ranks 18 in the number of reported identity theft complaints, the AARP Fraud Watch Network offers tips so people can learn how to protect themselves from the top ten scams reported by Mississippians in 2014.

(This story is by Margie Culbertson, an AARP Mississippi volunteer and freelance writer. Her photo is on the left.)