AARP North Carolina

The holidays are over! If you are like most of us, you probably overextended yourself with decorating, shopping and cooking. And if you are one of our nation’s 49 million family caregivers, you no doubt were feeling doubly stressed! Chances are that creating New Year’s resolutions never even made it onto your to-do list. Here is a set of resolutions tailored for family caregivers to help make 2014 happier, healthier and more relaxed for the whole family.

On November 21, Charlotte City planners, along with civic and business leaders, met to both recognize current efforts and to identify new ways to make Mecklenburg County more attractive to older adults. AARP North Carolina hosted a summit that helped city planners and community activists learn more about aging trends and research on the 50 plus population to better inform local decisions.

North Carolinians age 50 and older face choices and pressures unlike those of any other age group – choices few could have prepared for. Rising health care costs, low personal savings, unemployed workers, and caregiving pressures are just some of the concerns people have when it comes to their daily lives and when preparing for retirement.

With health care costs becoming an ever-increasing proportion of retirees’ yearly expenses, be equipped with the knowledge and tools to account for those costs in your retirement savings plan and make lifestyle changes to possibly reduce those costs. AARP's Health Care Costs Calculator will make you more aware of an underestimated, and even ignored, component of retirement planning.

CHARLOTTE -- City planners, along with civic and business leaders, met today to both recognize current efforts and to identify new ways to make Mecklenburg County more attractive to older adults. AARP North Carolina hosted a summit that helped city planners and community activists learn more about aging trends and research on the 50 plus population to better inform local decisions.

AARP is focused on making Charlotte and the region more livable for people of all ages. Walkable Charlotte Week, our Livable Communities Listening Sessions, and the upcoming Making a More Livable Mecklenburg livable communities summit are helping to engage people 50+ on the effort to meet the challenges of the coming demographic changes. This week AARP North Carolina's local team in Charlotte conducted Walkable Charlotte Week, which aimed to raise awareness about the issue of walkability and why that is an essential component of creating a livable community.

Throughout November, AARP will be continuing its Charlotte programs on the Affordable Care Act. At these November sessions, we will be joined by counselors to help answer detailed questions about how the ACA affects you and your family, including the new "Marketplace". Space is limited and pre-registration is required (see links below).

Join AARP members and friends at Charlotte Bobcats and Checkers games in fall 2013!

As an area’s population evolves, so must its community. Mecklenburg’s evolution includes an ever-increasing aging population with an increased reliance on transportation, mobility and housing.

By Jean C. Setzfand