AARP North Dakota

Larry is a North Dakota caregiver who takes care of his wife with multiple sclerosis, every day, 24 hours a day. He does the cooking, bathing, and other necessary tasks that allow Larry and his wife to stay at home rather than move away from their homestead. It’s a tough job, but for Larry and the other 62,100 North Dakota caregivers, it’s a labor of love. That is why AARP is fighting for caregivers like Larry.

More than 15 AARP volunteers attended the May meeting of the legislature’s Interim Human Services Committee to show their support for North Dakota family caregivers.

AARP North Dakota State Director Janis Cheney has announced her retirement after 15 years in the position.

When it comes to balancing family life, working, and full-time caregiving, it can be overwhelming. Does this sound like this you?

Brian Larson of Bismarck has been appointed as state coordinator of AARP’s Driver Safety Training program in North Dakota.

Life Reimagined is all about possibilities – envisioning them, evaluating them and making them reality. Life Reimagined is a first-of-its-kind series of online and offline experiences to help people reflect, evaluate priorities and take action to live their best life.

Are you looking for a meaningful, part-time volunteer opportunity? Even if you have a job, you could still become a part-time volunteer. Consider AARP’s Driver Safety program, which is operated entirely by volunteers in North Dakota.

As the days and nights get colder, some low-income North Dakotans may find the increase in home heating costs beyond what their budget can handle. The North Dakota Department of Human Services is reminding low-income individuals, families, and seniors that help is available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Applications are now being accepted at county social service offices in North Dakota.

November marked National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the 40 million Americans – more than 61,000 from North Dakota – who help older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home, where they want to be. The unpaid care they provide – managing medications, cooking meals, driving to appointments, performing complex medical tasks and more – is valued at $860 million in North Dakota alone.

State lawmakers launched a study this summer to determine what kinds of support family caregivers need. The study could lead to legislation in 2017 to ease the burden on those caring for a loved one at home.