Advocacy

If there is one thing everyone should understand, it’s that “scammers” are career criminals skilled at the art of manipulation and no one is immune. These crooks target people of any age; in fact, 41% of those who reported a fraud loss to the Federal Trade Commission last year were under the age of 30. So, what can a person do if they experience fraud?

Spring has sprung and with warmer weather comes home repairs. Unfortunately, shady contractors are out there looking homeowners in the market for spring repairs. Contractor fraud and home improvement scams can cost homeowners thousands of dollars and leave them with shoddy workmanship, unfinished projects, or even damage to their homes.

In collaboration with our Consumer Issues Task Force (CITF) - led by Chairperson Mary Bach and supported by Associate State Director of Community Outreach David Kalinoski - AARP Pennsylvania has a long and respected history of advocating to spread information and knowledge about frauds and scams.

Gift card sales rose from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, and while they are popular with consumers, they are also popular with criminals. In fact, researchers estimate that $40 to $50 billion is stolen from fraud victims in any given year.

AARP knows that access to an employer-based retirement plan is critical for building financial security later in life. That is why we are fighting for over two million Pennsylvania employees who work for a private sector employer that does not offer a traditional pension or a retirement savings plan to easily save for retirement. 

AARP Pennsylvania will continue to be a driving force for social change that enhances the lives of 50-plus Pennsylvanians through advocacy, outreach, information, and volunteer service in communities statewide. We are working to ensure that needs of Pennsylvanians age 50 and older, including our nearly 1.8 million members statewide are heard by national, state, and local elected leaders.

The unpaid care provided by the nearly 1.5 million caregivers in Pennsylvania is valued at $22 billion, according to new state data available in AARP’s latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series. This is a $3.8 billion increase in unpaid contributions since the last report was released in 2019. The report highlights the growing scope and complexity of family caregiving and highlights actions needed to address the many challenges of caring for parents, spouses, and other loved ones.

Are you interested in walkable communities, public policy, and coalition building? If so, AARP Pennsylvania and America Walks have an opportunity for you: The Pennsylvania State Walking College, a 6-month, distance-learning fellowship program for walkable/livable community advocates, sponsored by AARP Pennsylvania and America Walks.

Bill Johnston-Walsh, state president of AARP Pennsylvania, issued a statement as Josh Shapiro was sworn in as the 48th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Bill Johnston-Walsh, state president of AARP Pennsylvania issued a statement after Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro nominated Lackawanna County Area Agency Director and Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging Board Chair Jason Kavulich to serve as Pennsylvania’s secretary of aging.