AARP North Carolina Caregiving and Financial Security Expert Departing

RALEIGH, NC – AARP North Carolina expert on financial security and family caregiving Debra Tyler-Horton is leaving to become the State Director of AARP Georgia, after having built an extensive network of volunteers and partner organizations that help thousands of North Carolinians improve their own financial resilience and better handle the responsibilities of caring for older or disabled loved ones.

“The impact that AARP volunteers and our strong community partners have made, especially in the African-American community, has been truly impressive,” Tyler-Horton said, reflecting on her five years at AARP North Carolina. “It’s bittersweet to be leaving when we are making tremendous progress, but I am excited about the real possibilities I’ll have with leaders in Georgia.”

Tyler-Horton became a statewide personality through her statewide radio show “Real Life on the Radio," and has been a popular speaker, especially among multicultural audiences, for her advice and assistance with family caregiving. According to a 2013 AARP study, family caregivers in North Carolina provided 1.19 billion hours of care—worth an estimated $13.4 billion—to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013. Tyler-Horton and her 75 volunteers developed close partnerships with many faith-based and community organizations to help caregivers develop resiliency in their unpaid roles taking care of loved ones.

“I owe this success to our volunteers and community partners,” she said. “They are incredible and I urge them to keep making a positive difference in their communities with Audrey’s assistance.”

In another major breakthrough, Tyler-Horton brokered a deal for Shaw University’s Divinity School to include financial literacy and stewardship in its curriculum, recognizing that a financially resilient congregation is essential for a stronger community. See more at https://states.aarp.org/nc-preaching-financial-freedom/

“Debra Tyler-Horton’s many accomplishments will continue to bear fruit, helping many older North Carolinians live better lives, while making their busy lives a little easier and more affordable,” said State Director Doug Dickerson, who added that Associate State Director for Community Audrey Galloway will take over many of Tyler-Horton’s programs.