Health & Wellbeing

If you’re a family caregiver, help has arrived.

Caring for a parent, spouse, or other loved one can be a 24/7 job that is emotionally, physically and financially difficult. That’s why AARP works tirelessly to support family caregivers, striving to make your big responsibilities a little bit easier.

Forman, Jamestown and West Fargo are each recipients of a 2019 AARP Community Challenge grant. A total of nearly $1.6 million will be distributed to fund 159 “quick action” projects across the country, helping communities make immediate improvements and jumpstart long-term progress to support residents of all ages.

Emergency respite funding for eligible North Dakota caregivers is now available through the Lifespan Respite Care Grant.

If you’re not currently a caregiver, you likely will be one in the future or need the help of a caregiver yourself at some point in your life. This year AARP North Dakota is hosting a series of caregiving telephone town halls to help support North Dakota family caregivers.

Today, AARP announced the launch of ‘ Stop Rx Greed,’ a nationwide campaign aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The goal of AARP’s sustained campaign is to help drive down drug prices for all Americans by advocating for a variety of legislative, executive, and regulatory actions at both the federal and state level.

AARP North Dakota is urging state legislators to pass a bill to make it easier for the state’s 62,000 unpaid caregivers to assist their friends and relatives at home.

AARP North Dakota is looking for volunteers to work with state legislators on issues such as caregiving, health care access, transportation and property taxes.

Medicare contributes $1.3 billion to North Dakota’s economy, equivalent to 12 percent of state and local government spending in the state, according to a new report from AARP. Medicare also covers 116,951 beneficiaries in the state. Older Americans have said Medicare is one of their top issues in the 2018 mid-term elections, and AARP North Dakota is working to encourage voter participation this election season.

Starting in April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare, including 126,000 in North Dakota.