AARP Minnesota

The vast majority of older Americans want to live independently at home. In order to do so, they often rely exclusively on unpaid family caregivers for help. In Minnesota, more than 670,000 family caregivers are helping their loved ones live independently – keeping them in their homes and out of costly institutions, such as nursing homes. These unsung heroes provide unpaid care valued at about $8.2 billion annually.

Fraud targeting taxpayers continues to run rampant nationwide. Watch out for these two tax crimes making headlines: tax identity theft and the IRS imposter scam.

Minnesota is only 1 of 7 States that tax Social Security Benefits. Minnesota should follow the lead of most states and Stop Taxing these Benefits.

You’re in a meeting with a coworker when her phone rings: Her elderly father has had a bad fall and is on the way to the emergency room. At the hospital, she discovers that her father will need to stay in the hospital. Four days later, her father is moved to a skilled rehabilitation care facility for several weeks of

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

ST. PAUL – With the 2015 legislative session underway, AARP’s focus will once again be to support Minnesota’s unpaid family caregivers as well as the more than one million people in our state who are struggling to save for retirement.

A new and exciting opportunity is available for AARP Minnesota Volunteers. For those who are interested in food, nutrition, cooking or hunger issues, the Cooking Matters at the Store program is way to use that passion to help fellow Minnesotans. Volunteers will assist with or lead grocery store tours for older adults on how to buy healthy food and stretch their food budget.

Congressional District Leaders will take on a variety of interesting projects in partnership with a fellow co-leader(s) to extend AARP’s network throughout all areas of the state. We anticipate that Co-Leaders will devote an average of 20 hours a month to this work, although some months will be busier or slower than others. It is possible for a volunteer to be a Co-Lead while also doing another volunteer position with AARP such as being a Fraud Fighter, Life Reimagined Guide or Driver Safety Instructor.

An excerpt from Christeen’s story: As a 94 year of age widow ,of five years, I have been a "receiver" from my daughter who as a single mom, did a wonderful job of raising three sons alone. My husband needed home care for several months, then had Home Hospice care for three weeks before he passed away. My daughter is a Home Health Nurse-Case Manager and supplied the help needed to keep him home. She now gives me the needed help to live in the home I bought 70 years ago, which makes it possible to be independent since she lives next door to me and has for 34 years.

Kathryn LeRoy LeBrasseur of Alexandria was presented with the 2014 AARP Minnesota Andrus Award for Community Service at an awards reception held at the Senior Community Center today. The award honors Minnesotans over the age of 50 who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. As part of the award, AARP made a $1,000 donation to the Alexandria Senior Community Center.