Advocacy

By Merry MacKinnon

AARP Oregon is in your community. Our organization is more than just discounts and lobbying for older Americans. But, we realize that not everyone knows what we’re working on across the state, Eugene and Springfield. To allow the community a chance to get to know us better, AARP is coordinating a “community blitz,” in Eugene/Springfield on March 1-3, 2017.

Dick Weinman is an AARP volunteer blogger and an assisted living guru.

Downloadable file: AARP_OregonSaves_flyer.pdf

AARP Oregon is building grassroots support to fight any erosion in critical services for older Oregonians.

We’re almost there!

By Mac McLean

In our culture, the ALF – and the other acronymed places for the elderly, fragile, and disabled – constitutes both the family, those at-hand, and village, out-there in the social order. The caregiver is the person at-hand in assisted living. For me, she – and it’s almost always she - cleans my glasses, opens my mail, dresses and undresses me, showers me, puts me on and takes me off the toilet, wipes me. What kind of person does it take to do all that – with heartfelt feeling?

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!