Advocacy

The 2017 legislative session has begun, and AARP Mississippi is at the State Capitol keeping an eye on things important to Mississippi’s 50-plus population.

As we start a new year, it's only natural to reflect on all that we accomplished in 2016, and turn our attention to what we hope to accomplish in 2017.

Mississippi has a poor health record, placing at or near the bottom of state rankings on obesity, cancer, diabetes and overall health. But the state excels in telehealth, and the Center for Telehealth at the University of Mississippi Medical Center ranks among the best in the nation.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and AARP Mississippi aims to mark the observance by making sure caregivers know their rights under a new state law.

Joyce Nelson of Moss Point has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and older, to receive the 2016 AARP Mississippi Andrus Award for Community Service -- the Association’s most prestigious and visible state volunteer award for community service.

AARP Mississippi will present a Take A Stand Debate Watch Party in Clarksdale, Mississippi, from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at Stone Pony Pizza, 226 Delta Avenue. Refreshments will be provided. The event is free.

Jackson, MS – The City of Hernando has been accepted into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The city was officially inducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at a ceremony at the Hernando Farmers Market, located at the DeSoto County Courthouse, 2535 Highway 51 South. The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities helps participating communities become great places for all ages by adopting such features as walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities. Hernando is the 119th city to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, which was established in 2012. It impacts more than 56 million people.

The Good News

DeSoto County, just south of Memphis, Tenn., is one of the fastest-growing counties in Mississippi and is seeing a surge in its 65-plus population.

(Jackson, MS) - AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2016 Mississippi Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Mississippians who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.