AARP Colorado

Our ability to successfully navigate the rough waters posed by life depends on our attitude. Viktor Frankl taught an entire generation that we cannot control everything that happens in life. However, we always have the freedom to choose an attitude in response to life. And that choice ultimately determines our experience of life. Do you choose to be a victim of life and succumb to the perceived inequities? Or, will you courageously accept the reality of your situation and seek life-giving possibilities? Consider your answer carefully. Your life depends on it!

Join our online Q&A sessions to learn how to age-proof your career.

AARP Colorado would like to invite you to Pueblo’s Annual 5 de Mayo Festival, Saturday, May 5, 2018, 12 – 7 p.m. in Bessemer Park.

At some point, we will all need someone to help us. This might be provided by family members, friends, neighbors, professional caregivers or all of the above. Some of us have many people to turn to, others, not as many. This program will help you think through future caregiving needs in an effective way. Many wonderful online resources and other strategies will be explored including CareMaps, Lotsa Helping Hands, and Caring Bridge to identify and help you create future care options. This will be a fascinating way to assess your current “circle of care” and learn how to enhance it – before you need it. This will be led by Jane W. Barton, Author of Caregiving for the GENIUS, and an AARP Caregiving Ambassador. There are two times to choose from:

Are you new to your community — or maybe just looking for ways to get more involved? Why not check out an AARP chapter near you! For example, the Black Forest Chapter is involved in fighting fraud! This will be the 10th year Chapter 1100 has co-hosted this event. Last year 15,800 pounds of paper was professionally shredded and recycled. The 371 individuals, from 18 different postal ZIP Codes, who took advantage of this opportunity to reduce their likelihood of being victimized by a scam or ID theft by taking advantage of our service, also donated 610 pounds of nonperishable food and $1,123 in cash to the Black Forest food pantry. Learn more about the Black Forest Chapter on their website.

The following is a letter Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president, sent to Senators Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer and Representatives Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi, urging them to protect older Americans and their families:

Greetings one and all…

AARP believes Americans are faced with a crisis in achieving adequate and secure retirement income, and SB-200, as written, is not the answer for the Public Employee’s Retirement Association.

Boundaries are necessary behavioral constructs if we are to have healthy relationships with other people. We need to be aware of where we end and the other person begins. Boundaries serve to protect both persons, honoring and respecting each individual. Well-conceived and well-managed boundaries are ultimately a blessing to all involved in the journey of caregiving.

This April, Medicare will begin to issue new Medicare cards to all beneficiaries. To help protect your identity, these new cards will no longer contain your Social Security number. Instead, Medicare will assign you a unique number that will be used for doctor visits and medical claims. As new cards start to get sent out, scammers might try to take advantage of this transition. The following is some information to help you from getting caught up in a Medicare card scam: