AARP North Carolina

DURHAM – When it comes to improving the health, finances and personal fulfillment of people across the state, few volunteers work as hard as Ronald “Ron” and Cynthia Ivey of Raleigh. The couple was honored this week with North Carolina's prestigious Andrus Award for Community Service presented annually by AARP .

“Over the past 48 hours, Governor McCrory and the State Legislature have taken significant first strides towards providing long-needed support for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementia, as well as their family caregivers.

This week on "Without Limits," you'll meet Dr. Bill Thomas, an author, entrepreneur, musician, teacher, farmer and physician whose wide-ranging work explores the terrain of human aging.

Much attention and debate has been focused on LGBT rights after the North Carolina General Assembly overturned a Charlotte bathroom ordinance. But what are the issues when it comes to LGBT rights and aging?

CHARLOTTE -- Dr. Bill Thomas, one of the most innovative and creative thinkers working in medicine today, brings a radical new approach to growth and aging through his modern day American Chautauqua movement the Age of Disruption Tour. Barnstorming the country in a rock n’ roll tour bus, Dr. Bill Thomas is engaging with communities passion building new and vastly more rewarding visions of aging.

According to a recent AARP study, about one-in-ten grandparents say they have grandchildren living in the household and about one-in-six provide day care for their grandchildren. Grandparenting certainly has its rewards. But for some, it may be riddled with legal questions and responsibilities.

WILMINGTON -- Want to be a more savvy consumer and help fight crime in a changing world? AARP, Cape Fear Council of Governments, Cape Fear Elder Abuse Prevention Network and law enforcement partners are hosting "Modern Crimes for Modern Times," an extensive workshop to help you identify and protect yourselves from the latest scams.

WILMINGTON -- Every two seconds someone’s identity is stolen. Shredding confidential documents you no longer need is one good way to protect yourself, and the AARP Fraud Watch Network wants to help.

RALEIGH -- AARP North Carolina, which represents 1.1 million people in the state, sent a letter to state House and Senate leaders this week outlining priorities important to the growing number of people in the state who are providing care to family members with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

With the state’s rapidly growing aging population, the number of people with Alzheimer’s and age-related dementia is also on the rise. In North Carolina, over 160,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number projected to increase to more than 210,000 by 2025. So how can North Carolina become more dementia friendly?