Health & Wellbeing

AARP volunteers and staff worked hard to ensure the passage of the CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable) Act, which helps the over one million family caregivers in Virginia as they prepare to perform a variety of medical/nursing tasks, including medication management, injections, wound care, transfers, and more upon discharge of their loved ones from a hospital setting. Most Virginians who receive assistance at home rely exclusively on unpaid family caregivers for help – at a value to the commonwealth of about $11.7 billion annually.

By Tamara Lytle

AARP Virginia is proud to be a sponsor of the 10th Annual 'Art of Aging - Life Begins at 50' event presented by Partners in Aging, Inc., in Fredericksburg!

Providing care for a family member with dementia can be challenging. Onset and worsening of symptoms can cause caregivers to feel stress and frustration, leading to an inability to cope. Listening to music is a coping tool used by many caregivers challenged by caregiver stress. If you are interested in learning about music interventions and other ways to cope with caregiver stress, please read on to find out about an opportunity to participate in an upcoming half-day event.

Aging: Something To Look Forward To!

Petersburg_ Join AARP Virginia at Virginia State University’s (VSU) 5 th Annual VSU Cares Mobile Dental and Health Expo. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at Virginia State University, 4 th Avenue, Petersburg, Virginia 23803.

Virginia’s Senior Navigator and its Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving created the remarkable, intergenerational “ Caring for the Caregiver Hack”, a competition featuring teams from seven Virginia universities and colleges. AARP Virginia sponsored the second year of this event, for which Bob Stephen, AARP Vice President, Caregiving and Health Programs, served as a judge. Each university team, over a 24-hour period, created new technology-driven tools for caregivers. The teams were required to demonstrate the tool they had developed, the technology to be used, its benefits to caregivers, its feasibility and a business case.

According to AARP, 90% of older adults nationwide want to remain living in their homes for as long as possible, yet US Census data suggest that many homes may not be designed to accommodate the needs of aging homeowners. Specifically, older homes often include multi-story living, stepped entries, narrow doorways and hallways, second story bedrooms, and single bathrooms adjacent to the bedrooms, which make daily living challenging. Older homes are also likely to need repairs, modifications, and energy updates to meet the needs of older residents and remain habitable. In an effort to support aging in place, more information is needed about the homes of residents aged 50+.

Join AARP Virginia at Living Well, Aging Well Summit in Fairfax! The mission of the summit is to collaborate, present knowledge, and provide a forum for individuals, family members, general community members, and industry professionals to explore multiple aspects of living and aging well.

AARP Virginia Co-Sponsors Free Healthy Aging Conference in Williamsburg