As of November 1, 2025, millions of Americans—including many older adults—may not receive their monthly food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This disruption affects individuals living on fixed incomes, many of whom rely on SNAP to afford groceries and maintain their health.
Newly released AARP caregiving data finds that nearly three in ten (27%) adults in Iowa are family caregivers, providing largely unpaid and unsupported care to older parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
An estimated 41% of American adults have lost money due to fraud or have had sensitive information obtained and used fraudulently. Scammers steal billions from consumers annually and fraud is a serious issue. AARP Iowa is committed to helping Iowans stay informed about how to avoid scams and where to find support and resources in the fight against fraud.
Cheryl Tevis of Pilot Mound came from a long line of farmers. Now 71, she charted a different route for herself, staying close to agriculture as a writer but also helping women advance in the world of ag. This October Hidden Gem helped found and now leads an Iowa volunteer group dedicated to women supporting women in both agribusiness and farming.
On a snowy night 25 years ago, Ruth Mwangangi arrived in Iowa from Kenya. Grateful for the warm welcome she received, she’s continued ever since to pay it forward, donating thousands of volunteer hours helping other newcomers or those with special needs both appreciate their differences and succeed in their new lives. Discover why this 52-year Ankeny woman believes everyone should volunteer.
Linda Smith vividly remembers her first powerlifting meet in late 2018. “I was terrified,” she says. But this 56-year-old Oxford mother of nine and grandmother of nine loved the competition. Since then, our August Hidden Gem has set new records for the deadlift in her age and weight class and still has more goals to tackle.
AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson released the following statement today in response to news from Washington that the Federal Government will require all nursing homes to mandate vaccination for staffers or face loss of Medicare and Medicaid funds.
Jerry Yocum was just a boy living in nearby Pocahontas when his life briefly intersected with a World War II German prisoner of war camp. But this 83-year-old retired Algona history teacher never imagined that decades later, he’d play a major role in telling the story about that same camp. Meet our July Hidden Gem.
Is your 65th birthday coming up? You know what that means: It’s time to prepare for Medicare. Get ahead of the game with answers from our free webinar on Medicare, including when to enroll, what’s covered and where to find help along the way.