AARP Delaware

Are you a passionate, strategic thinker with outstanding leadership qualities and the ability to motivate and inspire others? If so, we want you!

Top Financial Expert Conducts AARP Financial Resilience Session

by Myrle Bowe, AARP Volunteer

Would you be ready for an emergency? A recent survey conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency found that nearly 70 percent of Americans have not participated in a preparedness drill or exercise, aside from a fire drill, at their workplace, school or home in the past two years.

Do you want a secure retirement? Are you ready to achieve financial resilience as you venture into your next chapter of life? Then you might want to enjoy an AARP Financial Freedom workshop!

Do you enjoy working for a cause? Do you want to team up with other leaders to enhance the quality of life of Delawareans as they age? Then you might want to join AARP Delaware’s Executive Council.

Delaware ranks 29th when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents, but AARP cautions more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to improve an individual’s choice of setting where they receive long term care. Delaware ranked toward the bottom in this area. Delaware also ranks in the bottom for Medicaid spending for community care. Despite increased Medicaid support for in-home care, Delaware still ranks 48th among all states. These findings are from a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and SCAN Foundation.

In Delaware, from 2003 – 2012, 194 people were killed while walking. A new report, Dangerous by Design, Delaware 2014 ranks Delaware by major city and counties according to a Pedestrian Danger Index that assesses how safe pedestrians are while walking. In addition, the report presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries in every U.S. metro area. The report found that the majority of those deaths likely could have been prevented with better street design.

In the City of Wilmington, bus service is fairly accessible to most. In Kent and Sussex Counties, using buses as a means of getting to doctor’s appointments or to shop for food requires careful planning days in advance. If you don’t drive, you don’t get around Delaware very well. Considering that the 50+ population in the state is growing rapidly, transportation for those who may not be able to drive or may have limited driving ability is a problem that needs to be addressed.

At Delaware’s Driver Safety annual meeting on May 21, 2014 a very special memorial was given to the state’s former State Coordinator, Perry Martinson. Perry was in his sixth year as Driver Safety State Coordinator for Delaware when he suddenly passed away.