George Bridges

AARP and other advocates have formed Elevate Aging, a collaborative that addresses aging issues in Iowa. Among its priorities for the 2017 legislative session is passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act.

AARP Iowa’s top legislative priority in 2017 will be passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act. The legislation would provide training and support for family caregivers when a loved one comes home from a hospital stay.

AARP Iowa, the state Office of Attorney General and other agencies are providing training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges to help them address elder abuse in their communities. Funded by a three-year $400,000 federal grant, the project also provides services to victims—including housing and legal assistance—and strengthens intervention at the local level.

Politicians are not likely to make plans to update Social Security unless voters ask them to do so. That’s why AARP opened an office in Des Moines—to serve as a hub for efforts to hold presidential and congressional candidates accountable for explaining how they would keep Social Security financially sound for current and future generations.

Motorists can sharpen their skills and possibly earn a discount on car insurance by taking an AARP Driver Safety class. You can take the Smart Driver course in a classroom or online to learn current rules of the road, such as how to navigate roundabouts, as well as defensive driving techniques, such as how to manage common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time.