George Bridges

In a state whose legislature convenes for only 90 days every other year, AARP Montana plans to hit the ground running when the next session begins the first week of January. The AARP state office will be pressing for legislation that affects more than 400,000 Montanans age 50-plus—including bills to support family caregivers, strengthen consumer protections and safeguard services that help Montanans continue to live at home as they age.

Con artists are finding new ways to dupe people during the coronavirus pandemic. Fraud Watch Friday, a monthly AARP Montana–sponsored radio program, provides residents with ways to stay alert to swindles.

Family caregivers can take an occasional break, thanks to the state’s respite vouchers.

Suspicious charities, gift card fraud, packages snatched off porches—the holidays are a busy time for swindlers and other crooks.

Older Montanans are doing their part to boost the state by generating $19.6 billion in economic activity annually, according to an AARP financial analysis.

AARP Montana is working with Montana Food Bank Network to publicize a new anti-hunger initiative, especially in the eastern part of the state, where many low-income, older residents live and are often homebound.

AARP Montana is looking for personal accounts about the high cost of prescription drugs. The stories will bolster AARP advocacy in the state Legislature on behalf of older Montanans.

A new squad of fraud fighters is challenging con artists across the state. AARP Montana, in an initiative with the state attorney general’s office, has trained six volunteer outreach specialists to conduct presentations on avoiding the latest swindles.

The state’s open, scenic highways have a downside: one of the highest fatality rates in the nation.

AARP Montana wants residents 62 and older to remember that they may be eligible for the state’s Elderly Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit Program if their total household gross income is less than $45,000 a year.