AARP Washington

Undaunted by COVID-19 and the challenges it created, our elected officials spent this 90-day legislative session weighing the pros and cons of bills in a virtual environment. Even though this was a highly unusual period in Olympia politics for the legislature and advocates, AARP Washington persisted and secured victories that increase consumer protections, improve healthcare, and promote financial resiliency.

AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Washington Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ Washingtonians who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community members. The annual award recognizes those who make a powerful difference in their community.

In just over a year, more than 2,600 residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Washington state have died of COVID-19. While the ongoing vaccination rollout offers hope, we must seek improvements to care. Chronic problems that plagued nursing homes pre-pandemic—like infection control and understaffing—remain and may have worsened.

Did you know that April 14 is National Gardening Day? Not only is this hobby a perfect spring activity, but it also has plenty of mental health benefits that will keep you at ease during such a stressful time in the world. If you’re interested in creating a garden of your own, keep reading for some tips and tricks on how to get started:

Coronavirus scams are spreading as fast as the virus itself. In late February, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had logged more than 362,000 consumer complaints related to COVID-19 and stimulus payments, 69% of them involving fraud or identity theft. Victims have reported losing nearly $349 million. In Washington, the FTC has logged more than 7,900 consumer complaints related to COVID-19 and stimulus payments since the pandemic started.

AARP is committed to keeping your finances safe from fraud this tax season. Before filing your tax returns, take a look at some tips and tricks to avoid scammers and keep your personal information protected:

AARP Washington is part of a Social Isolation Work Group trying creative approaches to reaching lonely people, including a laptop lending library, virtual coffee klatches, and robotic pets.

At AARP, we are committed to giving you access to the tools and resources you need to effectively manage your money, especially in uncertain times like these.

AARP is proud to highlight our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, and to honor her legacy during Women’s History Month.

Veterans are victims of con artists about twice as often as the general population, AARP research finds. About 16 percent of former service members lost money to fraud over a recent five-year period.