Health & Wellbeing

By 2029, every fifth North Carolinian will be 65 or older. By 2031, there will be more people 65 and older than there will be children. AARP North Carolina is working to ensure the state is prepared for this. It is a member of the newly created Task Force on Healthy Aging, a project of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.

GREENSBORO, NC -- The Summer Nutrition & Cooking Series presented by AARP in the Triad is for anyone who wants to make nutrition a top priority this summer by learning more about herbs and spices, and finding inspiration for cooking more.

Of the 724,250 veterans in North Carolina, only 29% have used their benefits at VA health care, according to U.S. Census Bureau.

RALEIGH – If the NC House of Representatives acts in the Short Session, state lawmakers will make substantial progress when it comes to improving both the access and affordability of health care in the state. Following many years exploring healthcare policy changes and a recent bipartisan Joint Legislative Study Committee on Access to Healthcare and Medicaid Expansion, the state Senate passed HB 149 with bipartisan and near unanimous (by one vote) support.

COVID-19 has delivered a grim reminder of the serious and chronic issues residents and staff in nursing homes face. But long before the pandemic, many of these facilities were cited frequently for problems such as poor infection control, understaffing, inappropriate discharges and more.

In the United States, the vast majority of long-term care for older people is provided by family members, such as and spouses, children and other relatives. But LGBTQ elders are only half as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to have close family to lean on for help.

GREENSBORO, NC -- Do you ask yourself every day, "What’s for dinner?" If you are like most people, you want to start off the new year by eating better. Are you sick of your own cooking? If so, this is a great virtual opportunity for you to learn to prepare new tasty and nutritious meals.

RALEIGH, NC —Today, AARP launched a new tool to bring together valuable information and resources to help veterans, military families and their caregivers navigate their health care options. The Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator, North Carolina with critical information about what is required to qualify for health care benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Department of Defense (DoD).

If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that access to high-speed internet is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. AARP fought for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) because too many Americans do not have access to the affordable, high-speed internet they need. In addition, AARP is working with state lawmakers to expand broadband access to unserved areas in the state.

“It’s funny where a little research can take you,” AARP volunteer Sara Knapp mused recently. “Like all volunteers, I wanted to make a difference and have an impact in my community. In my case, I began by searching through Transylvania County health data and ended up becoming a Tai Chi instructor! Never in my wildest dreams,” she laughs.