June 1, 2017 — Once again, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas is competing in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathalon, a collegiate competition of 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build full-size solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. This year, the UNLV team has an additional goal in mind. AARP Nevada provided a volunteer focus group to help the engineering students design a home with aging in mind. The team’s 964-square-foot contest entry includes features that …

October 19, 2015 — Hashtags, emojis, tweets and memes. The vocabulary of modern online communication is only part of the challenge for people who are not familiar with the world of posting and tweeting. To help Nevadans age 50-plus enjoy the social media universe that their kids and grandchildren inhabit, AARP Nevada and the City of Henderson are offering free classes in Facebook and Twitter. AARP volunteers facilitate peer-based learning in small group settings, sharing anecdotes and “aha moments” from their own experiences. Participants …

May 1, 2015 — By Bob Stephen Laura recently started providing extra help to her 72-year-old mother who has Parkinson’s disease. Fortunately, the disease has been slow to progress, but lately her mom has needed more help to be able to continue living independently. Like most people age 65 and over, Laura’s mom has Medicare. Laura didn’t know much more about Medicare than its name, but realized she needed to learn more to ensure her mom could get the most out of her coverage. …

April 8, 2015 — By Nicole Duritz Forty two million Americans provide support to older parents, spouses and other loved ones. If you’re caring for a loved one, you may not think of yourself this way, but you are likely a family caregiver. Maybe you took on the role suddenly, or perhaps the responsibility evolved over time. While each family situation is unique, you can learn a lot from those who have been on this path before you. Here’s some advice from AARP and …

May 2, 2014 — By Julie E. Lee Honking horns, emergency vehicle sirens and engines: what do all of these sounds have in common? You need to hear all of them while driving. Safe driving relies on good vision and good hearing. Our ability to hear something before we see it helps us respond more quickly to potential danger. But over time, our hearing may diminish and we might start to miss cues that we used to hear. According to the National Institutes of …

August 6, 2013 — By Julie E. Lee, Vice President & National Director, AARP Driver Safety, Education and Outreach Despite our best intentions, most drivers will be involved in a fender-bender at some point in their lifetime. While fender-benders are more common during heavy traffic and low speeds, they can happen anytime, anywhere. From parking lots and driveways, to busy intersections and highways, it is important to know how to respond to this type of crash, if and when you’re involved in one. Keep …

July 15, 2013 — By Julie E. Lee, Vice President & National Director, AARP Driver Safety, Education and Outreach With the average age of cars on the road approaching 11 years, routine maintenance is more important than ever. In addition to fuel and insurance, vehicle maintenance is one of the most expensive out-of-pocket costs for car owners, which is why some drivers opt for DIY—“do-it-yourself”—maintenance. You may not be an auto expert or repair professional, but some routine tasks, such as replacing worn windshield …

April 2, 2013 — By Julie E. Lee, Vice President & National Director, AARP Driver Safety, Education and Outreach The transition from winter to spring can bring many joyous things, like a burst of new foliage, a lighter wardrobe and a little more daylight to enjoy. But warmer weather isn’t all daffodils and sunshine—especially for allergy sufferers. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 in 5 Americans suffers from an allergy that impacts their daily life. But in addition to affecting …

March 5, 2013 — By Julie E. Lee, Vice President & National Director, AARP Driver Safety, Education and Outreach Many widespread beliefs about safe driving rules are tried and true, such as buckle up, always come to a complete stop and use your turn signal. But some of the best driving practices are trickier. For example, how often do you need to change your oil? Is it really every 3,000 miles as many of us have been told time and time again? Over the …

January 4, 2013 — By Amy Levner, Manager, Housing and Mobility Options, AARP Education & Outreach Have high energy costs gotten you down?  You could blame the price of electricity or heating fuel, but high energy bills are more commonly due to inefficient systems or components in your home, such as leaky windows, loose duct installation, or faulty heating or cooling equipment. You don’t have to choose between your wallet and your comfort. Below are easy tips for reducing your energy costs and saving …