About AARP

By Mac McLean

What do you do when your family members’ situation dramatically changes so that they cannot maintain their independence without assistance? What if it happens to a friend or neighbor? In what ways can we create more interdependent communities?

Sometimes when we’re in the community, we’ll hear from someone who says, “I’ve never met a real person from AARP!” Yes, there is an AARP Oregon State Office with a staff of 7 plus a great team of volunteer partners. We’re active on issues that matter to you and your family. In this season of gratitude and reflection, we want to share with you some of the highlights from our work this year.

Election Day is less than one month away, but soon Oregonians who are registered to vote can start mailing in or dropping off their ballots. AARP Oregon asked all the candidates for Oregon Governor three questions about issues relevant to our members and all Oregonians: retirement security, transportation/mobility options, and support for caregivers. We also asked all the candidates for Oregon Treasurer the question about retirement security.

Join AARP Oregon, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Portland for Everyone and Urban Land Institute for an engaging morning of dialog about housing, land use and creating communities for all ages. Learn about “Missing Middle Housing” from the man who coined the term — nationally known architect

Working for a vital democracy

This is the first in a new series of blogs by the Oregon State Volunteer President

As kids we spent many long hours in our neighborhood playing games of kick the can. One of the main goals in the game (if you were “it”) was to protect the can from other players, while also looking for hidden players and calling them out. Now, as mid-life adults, we are too preoccupied with life to think about the kick the can game or even the symbolic “can” for our generation: Social Security. As a society, continuing to “kick the can down the road,” means failing to find solutions to shore up the Social Security program.

By Michele Scheib, Our Gen-X AARP Oregon volunteer

The Young at Any Age Team: Sam Jones, Joyce DeMonnin, Steve Carter, Debbie Cahill and Carlos Romo