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by Sid Kirchheimer

Are you a caregiver living in the Ogden area? The Care for the Caregiver Coalition is there to help. They're offering a free series of educational programs at Weber Human Services in Ogden beginning on March 20, and running every Friday until May 8.

Democracy Day 2015 is right around the corner on Thursday, February 12! This is your chance to meet with Utah state legislators over breakfast, tour the Capitol to see the legislative process in action, learn about advocacy research, and hear a panel discussion of the Governor's Healthy Utah plan. We are honored to have Lt. Governor Spencer Cox be the keynote speaker.

The Cost of Retiring Poor: Nearly 1 in 5 Utahns Will Reach Retirement age with More Debt than Cash and Savings

AARP Utah is pleased to announce the appointment of Donna Russell as Utah's new State President and leader of our Executive Council. This position is the top volunteer role in Utah. Donna will guide of team of leadership volunteers to shape and execute AARP's statewide priorities. The appointment was made by Carlos Brandenburg, AARP West Region's Volunteer Director.

To coincide with Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, the AARP Fraud Watch Network is launching an education effort to help people protect themselves from tax scams, releasing a new video, a tip sheet and encouraging people to take advantage of AARP’s free tax preparation services.

With the new year comes another new Utah legislative session, and AARP Utah is ready to advocate for key issues critical to residents 50 and older. AARP priorities in 2015 will focus on policies that help protect the health and financial security of Utahns who need it the most.

AARP Utah Community Outreach Director Jill Duke of South Jordan cared for her mother-in-law for six years while she still had three children at home and a fulltime job. She made a 120 mile roundtrip visit twice a week to help with medications, provide companionship, and perform everyday errands until her mother-in-law needed round-the-clock care in an assisted living facility. But Jill’s caregiving duties did not stop—she still visited her mother-in-law every day to attend to her physical and emotional needs until she died this September.

AARP Utah relies on volunteer leaders to help coordinate programs around the state, such as our popular “Staying Sharp” seminar on brain fitness, fraud forums, presentations on Medicare and Social Security, and fun events such as Grandparents Night at the Museum. These Area Coordinators work with the state staff to make sure communities in each corner of the state have programs right in their neighborhoods, not just along the Wasatch Front.