Advocacy

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.

AARP Oregon salutes Oregon's nearly 470,000 family caregivers during November's National Family Caregiver Month. We also recognize it's a tough job. A bit of rest now and then, or "respite care," helps prevent significant stress and burnout that can lead to worse health for the caregiver, and diminish the caregiver's ability to provide good care to their loved one. Caregivers need short breaks!

AARP Oregon is sponsoring three Vital Aging conferences across the state for AARP members and their family members and friends. The events are free, educational and fun. Speakers will explain how to parlay age and experience into new possibilities and how to foster an attitude that the best is yet to come.

Next month, Oregonians will be asked to cast their votes for new elected leaders, as well as to weigh in on important issues facing our state and our communities. One of these important issues will be presented on your ballot as Measure 97. Some of you may already be familiar with this ballot measure because it has generated considerable controversy throughout the state, and has been widely reported on by the media and in advertising spots by various interest groups, since it was included on the ballot.

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.

By Dick Weinman, AARP Volunteer and Assisted Living Guru

By Merry MacKinnon

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.