George Bridges

Por Lisa H. Towle

Por Jackie Spinner

A recent AARP survey shows that more than half of Wyoming’s registered voters 45 and older are providing or have provided care for an adult who is ill, frail or elderly or has a disability. These unpaid family caregivers help their loved ones with transportation, shopping, meals, bathing, dressing and even medical tasks, such as managing medications. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they expected to provide the same type of care in the future.

AARP Oregon is cosponsoring an intergenerational conference focused on the needs of American Indians who care for elders or children. The April 20-21 conference in Pendleton aims to enhance caregiving skills among tribal communities.

Your car looks great, but does it fit? Find out at a CarFit event near you. A trained volunteer technician can help you adjust your seat, steering wheel and rearview mirrors for good visibility, comfortable control and safety.

Avoiding schemes that bilk hard-working Idahoans out of their money is the focus of two upcoming Scam Jams. AARP Idaho is cosponsoring the day-long events April 21 in McCall and May 19 in Coeur d’Alene. Other sponsors include the Better Business Bureau, local law enforcement, and state agencies such as the Attorney General’s office, Commission on Aging and departments of Finance and Insurance.

Staying in shape is important at any age, but exercise can be difficult for people with physical limitations. AARP Virgin Islands has an answer: Zumba Gold, a fun, effective fitness class tailored to active older adults. Like regular Zumba, the dance-based classes provide an aerobic workout, but Zumba Gold is low-impact and can even be done in a chair.

Cities that aspire to be great places to live can take some tips from Macon-Bibb County, which in 2012 was the first place in Georgia to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

In a recent AARP survey, more than 6 in 10 Kentucky voters age 45-plus said they are providing or have provided care for an adult who is ill, frail or elderly, or who has a disability. Besides helping with household chores, nearly 3 in 4 respondents have helped with managing medications or other medical tasks.

You can’t stop getting older, but you can disrupt aging by ignoring outdated expectations and defining yourself.