Steve Hahn

ASHEVILLE -- Real Life is on the road again and has recorded this special show in Asheville. This week, you’ll hear from 89 year-old Genevieve Amaral, one of the fine people host Debra Tyler Horton met during her summer travels.

AARP California's Jennifer Hopson is this week's special guest on "Real Life." Jennifer talks about some of the exciting programs and the work of AARP in the Golden State. Whether it is getting people moving and active through a new walking club, helping family caregivers through informational outreach and some pampering, protecting people from fraud, or getting people better prepared to meet the financial demands of retirement, AARP is helping people live the lives they want to live. AARP is also working hard in California to make communities more inclusive to the 50 plus population.

What is AARP doing in other states when it comes to improving multicultural communities? How are AARP state offices working to help meet the needs of family caregivers and those taking care of their loved ones? How is it helping people picture their own retirement by helping them save more, and protecting them from fraud, scams and elder abuse?

AARP volunteers delivered approximately 700 letters from voters across the state asking their leaders in the General Assembly for fully restored, uncapped medical deductions for people of all ages, as well as funding for the Home and Community Block Grant program in the final budget.

The North Carolina House and Senate have major differences in their budget bills when it comes to meeting the needs of family caregivers and those with high medical costs. Earlier this month, the House approved budget reinstated the NC medical expense tax deduction that helps protect people from the impact of high medical expenses. They also restored one million dollars in funding that was taken away from the Home and Community Care Block Grant program that supports programs that help people age in their own homes.

When the state Senate revealed its budget proposal Monday night, it did NOT include fully-restored, uncapped medical deductions, or increased funding for the Home and Community Care Block Grant that helps people live independently in their own homes. Instead, the Senate proposed a $20,000 combined cap for all itemized deductions and no change to the Block Grant funding.

In the past, the state budget debate may have been something North Carolina’s non-political junkies generally overlooked or did not closely follow. But this legislative session, more age 50-plus voters have been paying close attention because tax law changes that went into effect hit them where it counts, right in the pocketbook.

Have you received an unsolicited call for tech support lately? Beware, it probably is a fraud. Companies like Microsoft or Apple will never call you. Today’s con artists are getting sneakier. So how do you identify or recognize fraud? Where do you report it? This week on Real Life, learn more about the newest types of fraud targeting Americans of all ages. You will also learn how you can protect yourself with AARP’s Fraud Watch Network. With the free Fraud Watch Network, members and non-members alike can get the con-artists’ playbook, receive fraud alerts, learn about local events and more. Real Life will look at AARP’s efforts to fight fraud in North Carolina and across the nation with this week’s guest Rosa Maymi, AARP project advisor. Listen to Real Life on the audio link or on your local Real Life station.

WASHINGTON, D.C . – With romance scammers using the Internet to rob Americans of an estimated $81 million per year, AARP’s Fraud Watch Network today called on the online dating industry to institute new safeguards to better protect their users. AARP North Carolina is inviting its members and the general public to become involved in the national campaign by signing an online petition.

AARP came out against State House Bill 405 – the Property Protection Act also known as the ‘Ag-Gag’ bill in recent weeks. Last week, AARP asked the Governor to veto this bill after it passed the Senate because the bill goes too far and applies to all businesses, not just agricultural businesses, and could discourage whistleblowing by employees. We need employees ready to blow the whistle when abuse, neglect or unethical acts are occurring in and around our most vulnerable populations of seniors and kids.