Ronda Gooden

As COVID-19 restrictions have eased in Mississippi, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities eventually will prepare to resume in-person visits for families. While this may happen in the future, now is the time to prepare. Experts say in-person visits will be different than before the pandemic, at least until the threat of coronavirus has passed. There may be limits on when, where and for how long you can see loved ones, and distancing rules will likely be in place.

AARP is accepting nominations for its 2020 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.

AARP Community Connections, a new online platform launched by AARP Innovation Labs, allows users to organize and find local volunteer groups to help pick up groceries, provide financial assistance or lend emotional support to neighbors, friends and loved ones. Across the country, these informal online groups—also called “mutual aid” groups—help communities stay connected at a time when people must practice social distancing to stay safe.

Scammers look to capitalize on the news of the moment, especially if the headlines can instill fear and motivate people to act. The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus is no exception. While scientists and medical professionals are working overtime to find ways to test for and stem the spread of the virus, the Federal Trade Commission warns that bad actors are working hard to use this as an opportunity to deceive consumers and steal their money or sensitive information.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the Mississippi Legislature to pause the 2020 session. However, AARP Mississippi continued its advocacy work virtually by activating volunteers to call their legislators about issues that are important to people age 50 and over. As COVID-19 cases in Mississippi began to increase, it became apparent that the disease was significantly affecting long-term care facilities.

Are you caring for a parent, spouse, other loved one or friend? Many of us are doing the best we can to balance work, family and caregiving without even realizing that we are indeed, caregivers. Caregiving is even more challenging now during the COVID-19 pandemic. AARP Mississippi will present a webinar, Prepare To Care – Creating A Plan, at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The webinar offers information and tactics for family caregivers. To register, click here.

This week, AARP Mississippi met virtually with federal lawmakers to urge more help for older Americans and their families as they face growing health and economic challenges due to the coronavirus crisis. Residents in nursing homes, those who are food-insecure, and people who have lost their jobs are particularly in need.

AARP is providing information and resources about COVID-19 to help older Mississippians and their families protect themselves from the virus and prevent it from spreading to others.

AARP Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Service Commission will host a Broadband Tech Night Workshop at the Collins Civic Center, located on 3220 U.S. 49 in Collins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019. The workshop will feature AARP Mississippi representatives and Sam Britton, Southern District Public Service Commissioner.

Join AARP Mississippi for an important Telephone Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2 about government impostor scams. Scammers rip off unwary taxpayers by impersonating agents of the Internal Revenue Service. To join the call, click here.