Serena Garcia

During the “Stealing Your Life” free fraud education event, AARP Fraud Watch Network ambassador, Frank Abagnale will share his expertise and insight to arm individuals with the knowledge and information on how to spot and avoid scams, and the importance of safely using social media so that they can protect their families. Abagnale, a former master check forger who inspired the 2002 film Catch Me if You Can, was once one of the world’s most famous confident men. Abagnale has advised the FBI on how to outsmart con artists for over four decades. As one of the world’s most respected authorities on identity theft, he will be coming to the Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 on April 12. Doors open at 6:15pm and the program is from 7pm-9pm. John Sours, Director of the Georgia Department of Law Consumer Protection Unit, will also serve as a guest with Abagnale.

Georgia native Lee Baker, CFP ® has been appointed the new state president of AARP Georgia, the state’s largest social mission organization with over 1.1 million Georgian members.

On March 1, 2016, AARP volunteers, leaders from community organizations, and Area Agency on Aging staff participated in a train-the-trainer workshop on AARP’s Prepare to Care presentation. The participants benefited from seeing the presentation, learning added information to share with audiences, and gained presentation and instructing techniques to keep participants interested and engaged. Several of the participants were currently serving in caregiving roles and recognized very early on in the course that they were involved in the critical role of caring for a family member without being fully prepared to do so. Participants stated they were trying to fulfill the role without a plan or a support team. Some shared that trying to be the lone caregiver in a family was extremely stressful. One participant admitted that having to be a caregiver along with other family responsibilities sometimes made them feel like they were “flying without a parachute.”

In partnership with Emory University (Emory Continuing Education), the AARP Driver Safety class helps participants identify individual problem areas, which helps to improve their own driving behavior. Completing this course and submitting your certificate to your insurance company may result in a reduction of up to 10% in your insurance premiums!

Social Security is becoming even more important in Georgia and throughout the country. Employer pensions are vanishing. The cost of health care and other necessities keeps going up. Yet more people than ever may live into their 80s, 90s and beyond, with limited means to pay the bills. If our leaders don’t act, future retirees could lose up $10,000 a year.

Today, the Georgia House of Representatives passed the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (UAGPPJA) which would make it easier for family caregivers to provide care across state lines.

By Mary M. Levi, AARP-Georgia Volunteer

Social Security has helped nearly 250 million Americans in its 80-year history. But as America evolved over those 80 years, Social Security didn’t foll ow. Social Security faces both short- and long-term challenges. Social Security can pay full benefits for nearly 18 years. However, if no action is taken, benefits will be cut by nearly 25% in 2034 across the board.

Senator Charlie Bethel, Chair of the Georgia Senate Insurance and Labor Committee has introduced SR 736, which would create a legislative study committee to examine the retirement needs of working Georgians and determine the feasibility of creating a “Work and Save” plan in the state. Currently, one out of every two workers in the State of Georgia does not have a way to save for retirement at work. A “Work and Save” plan would give those employees a simple way to build their own private savings, and could make them less likely to rely on government safety net services, which would save taxpayer dollars.

AARP Georgia is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Tyler-Horton as its new State Director, a move that elevates her from AARP North Carolina’s Associate State Director – Multicultural Outreach to this state’s top decision-making position.