AARP Texas

The holidays are upon us, which means it’s a time for family, food, joy and shopping. It’s also occasion to be aware of fraudulent acts like fake charities and credit card scams, many of which target older persons.

There are more than 3.4 million unpaid family caregivers in Texas. It is with pride that we extend our thanks to each one of them.

Is your home safe enough for you to continue living in it independently as you age? What extra precautions or assistance might you need? How much will home adjustments cost, and what regulations do you need to follow?

Statistics tell a powerful story. Consider that 36 percent of Texas residents age 65 or older depend on Social Security as their only source of income. Or that more than four of 10 in this age group would live in poverty were it not for Social Security.

Each year, AARP volunteers and staff give back in a slightly different way. On Sept. 11, a nationwide day of service, we step out of our community events and away from our desks and choose a different place to serve. This year is no different. Across the state, we're going to do something a little out of the ordinary--from walking dogs at animal shelters to serving meals to homebound seniors. Would you like to join us? If you're a current volunteer, reach out to your staff partner. If not, please shoot us an email.

AARP is teaming up with civic leaders and groups to make Fort Worth an even better place to live, work and play for people of all ages.

The 140-day Texas legislative session flew by--a blur of busyness. So too did this summer. Now, September is around the corner. With it's arrival, many new laws go into effect. So what changes do you need to know about? Here are some of the changes that will most impact Texans age 50+ and their families:

All across Texas, we're looking at things a little differently. We're looking at sidewalks and parks and bus routes. We're asking people what else we should look at. This is part of our focus on helping the biggest cities in Texas join AARP's Network Age-Friendly Communities. Once they join, the work is just starting. Then we talk to locals and neighbors across the great cities, asking them what they want out of their city. We take this information and help the leaders put a plan together to make it happen.

By Lawrence Randle

Attention is focused on the western Gulf of Mexico as a significant storm threatens to bring high winds, coastal damage and inland flooding to large parts of Texas. The National Hurricane Center believes the storm off the Texas Gulf Coast has a 90-percent chance of becoming a tropical storm. That decision will be determined Monday evening or Tuesday. If it gains strength the storm will be upgraded to a tropical storm named Bill.