AARP Texas

By Charlene James

Earlier this month, the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP announced they are joining forces to extend the reach of the Community Resource Finder, an online database connecting families with local resources to help address concerns and navigate the challenges of Alzheimer’s, dementia and aging.

AARP Texas will unveil a new community mural Oct. 6, at 1902 S. Lamar St., Dallas, as part of its Livable Communities efforts.

Mark your calendar for a day of live music, food and dancing during the annual “Celebrando con AARP” on Sunday, Oct. 7. Hosted by AARP in San Antonio at Traders Village (9333 S.W. Loop 410), from noon to 6 p.m., the event will cap National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15).

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off Sept. 15. Connect with AARP in San Antonio at tons of exciting events. RSVP for all of them, or just drop in for our grand finale. AARP is helping people of all ages celebrate their heritage and live la vida buena. So bring your friends and family and Take on Today and every day.

AARP Texas today lauded a proposal by Texas Sunset Advisory Commission Vice Chair Representative Chris Paddie -- and approved by the commission -- to ensure the safety of vulnerable Texans during natural disasters by taking steps to immediately fix some of the issues that plagued the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) during Hurricane Harvey a year ago.

Social Security is a fixture in the lives of many Americans, including many Texans. With the 83rd anniversary of its creation upon us, now is a good time to take a look at the impact Social Security has on Texans today.

As Hurricane Harvey ravaged Southeast Texas last August, one Texas assisted living facility (ALF) became infamous when a photo of elderly residents sitting in waist-deep water went viral.

Volunteers have long been a critical part of our country’s history. The long and proud history of volunteering extends all the way back to the first colonies, when Americans provided for others in times of strife. Benjamin Franklin, for example, began the first volunteer firefighting company in 1736.

Often overlooked when considering the long-term health of older adults, social isolation deserves to be addressed. Today, AARP estimates that 17% of adults age 50 and older suffer from isolation. Isolation is not always talked about but it is an important public health issue that affects millions of Americans.