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At AARP Wyoming, we know that family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system. Every day, thousands of Wyomingites put their families first, caring for aging parents, spouses, or loved ones. These hard-working caregivers help with everything from managing medical care to cooking meals, handling finances, and providing emotional support—all unpaid.

We also know that caregiving comes with financial and emotional challenges. On average, family caregivers spend over 20 hours per week.

The financial strain is real, with caregivers paying more than $7,000 out of pocket each year for essential expenses like medical supplies, home modifications, and transportation. Many even cut back on work hours or leave their jobs entirely to meet the demands of caregiving.

That’s why AARP is fighting to put money back in the pockets of caregivers by pushing Congress to pass the Credit for Caring Act, a commonsense tax credit that would provide up to $5,000 in financial relief for eligible family caregivers.

Last month, I traveled to Washington, D.C., with AARP Wyoming State President Stella Montano to meet with our congressional delegation and advocate for the Credit for Caring Act. We had productive conversations with our congressional delegation, ensuring they understood the urgent need to support family caregivers in Wyoming.

We made it clear that supporting caregivers isn’t just about helping individual families—it’s about saving taxpayer dollars. Without family caregivers, many older Wyomingites would be forced into expensive nursing homes, with the cost often falling on Medicaid and taxpayers. By providing caregivers with financial relief, we help keep more seniors in their homes, where they want to be, and reduce the strain on government programs.

In conversation with US Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, he said he understands the challenges of caregiving, but indicated that there are many competing tax and budget priorities Congress is trying to prioritize.

To get this across the finish line, we will need to cut through the noise of everything happening in Congress right now. If you agree that family caregivers deserve financial relief, we need your voice!

You can take action now by sending a message to Congress and urging them to support the Credit for Caring Act. It only takes a minute—just visit AARP Action Page and add your name. It’s worth noting that President Trump has indicated his support for this proposal.

With your help, we can ensure that Wyoming’s caregivers get the support they deserve. Thank you for all you do, and let’s keep fighting for common-sense solutions that make a real difference for families across our state.

Everyone has a story worth telling. Maybe it’s a childhood memory, a life-changing moment, or just those small, everyday experiences that shaped who you are. Capturing those stories in an interesting way? That’s the tricky part.

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AARP Wyoming is here to help with Treasured Tales, a FREE eight-week memoir-writing course designed to give you the structure, inspiration, and confidence to start telling your story. Whether you want to preserve family history, share personal reflections, or just enjoy the process of writing, this class will guide you through it.

Leading the course is award-winning author Carolyn Lampman, who grew up on a Wyoming ranch that’s been in her family since 1887. Carolyn’s novels pull from her deep Wyoming roots, weaving history, mystery, romance, and humor into page-turning reads. Several years ago she turned her attention to memoirs and has since written four; one on purpose and three by accident. Now, she’s here to help you craft your stories in a fun and supportive environment.
Carolyn says “Our memories are our footprints frozen in time.”

Each week, you’ll dive into a different theme, with writing prompts and examples to help spark inspiration. You’ll learn how to:

• Identify and develop personal stories
• Organize your memories into meaningful narratives
• Use storytelling techniques to bring your experiences to life
• Build confidence in sharing and preserving your history

No previous writing experience? No problem. This course is designed for everyone, whether you’ve been journaling for years or are just getting started.

Writing a memoir is like revisiting the best parts of your life and taking your friends and family along for the ride. Taught by award-winning author, Carolyn Lampman, this eight-week class is designed to help participants brainstorm, plan, organize and begin writing a personal memoir. By the end of the class, each will have several stories, a notebook full of ideas and a clear path forward toward crafting your own  personal memoir

Ready to start writing? Join us for Treasured Tales and take the first step in capturing your life’s most meaningful moments.

Register today! Visit aarp.org/wyevents and search the keyword: Memoir to save your spot. You do NOT have to be an AARP member to take this class.

We can’t wait to hear your stories!

If you’ve ever tried to change your Medigap policy (Medicare supplement insurance), but worried about seeing your coverage costs increase dramatically, help may be on the way.

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The Wyoming Insurance Department has proposed Wyoming join several other states in adopting what is called the Birthday Rule for Medicare enrollees who have a Medigap policy they would like to change. If the Governor signs this proposal into effect this spring, this could be a major benefit to Wyomingites by offering a chance to change your policy annually.

Click here to submit a comment to the Wyoming Department of Insurance.

If you are new to Medigap supplements, they are insurance policies used to cover out of pocket Medicare Part A and Part B (also referred to as “traditional Medicare”) cost-sharing requirements, such as co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance. Medigap insurers are required to provide guaranteed issue for Medigap policies during a one-time, six-month open enrollment period when individuals first enroll in Medicare Part B. Guaranteed issue periods are enrollment times when you can sign up for a Medicare supplement without going through medical underwriting or insurance companies denying you for pre-existing conditions. Outside of that initial six-month guaranteed issue window, Medigap enrollees can only change plans without medical underwriting in a very limited number of special circumstances.

If the Governor signs the Birthday Rule proposal, Medigap enrollees would be able to annually switch to Medigap plans that offer the same or lesser benefits without being dinged for pre-existing conditions within 63 days around their birthday. Wyoming would be one of ten [JE1] states that offer the Birthday Rule, with seven other states offering either year-round or specific times of the year when a person’s current policy was purchased.

The Wyoming Department of Insurance oversees Medigap policies which are sold in the state, and accepts Medicare Advantage complaints, which it sends to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. The Department of Insurance submitted the proposal for public comment at the end of 2024 and will take comments until Feb. 19, 2025. At that point it will consider any public comments received before sending the rule proposal to the Governor who can decide to sign the rule into effect.

In review - if the Birthday Rule is signed by the Governor, those trying to change their Medigap supplemental insurance policy would be able to have an annual enrollment period around their birthday in which you can switch plans for same or lesser coverage without medical underwriting, or the insurance company determining your coverage and price based on medical history. If the Governor chooses not to sign this change, companies selling Medigap supplements can deny you based on medical conditions.

While this change will not have a direct impact on those wanting to change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, it could benefit those who want to change from a Medicare Advantage plan back to a Medigap policy.

If you like what you see and wish to lend your public comment to the process, click here to submit a comment to the Wyoming Department of Insurance.

For 15 years, Dogs and Tags PTSD, TBI of Wyoming—aka Dogs & Tags—has been dedicated to transforming lives through the power of service dogs. Operating solely on donations and fundraisers, the organization works with veterans and civilians suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), helping them find and train service dogs that provide critical support in their daily lives.

Now, thanks to a partnership with AARP Wyoming, one special dog, Bridget, is making a life-changing impact on a veteran and his family.

Bridget, a Bernedoodle, was handpicked for her unique qualities—loyalty, intelligence, and an innate ability to connect with humans. However, her journey to becoming a fully trained service dog has just begun. Paula Cooke, the dedicated trainer behind Dogs & Tags, explained that the selection and training process depends on various factors, including the veteran’s needs, the dog’s temperament, and the nature of their bond.

"When you're testing a dog to be a service dog, you want the dog to want to be with people rather than playing with toys or running around with other dogs," Cooke shared. Having grown up (just 8 months old) alongside her veteran family, Bridget already had a strong foundation for success.

Bridget’s veteran, Mr. Sumer (not his real name), had been searching for a service dog for over a year. His daughter’s allergies meant the family needed a hypoallergenic breed, making the search even more challenging. With the help of Dogs & Tags, they connected with the right bernedoodle and began the journey that would change their lives.

Service dogs like Bridget are trained to assist in specific ways that directly support their handler’s needs. For Mr. Sumer, her tasks include:

✔ Four-Point Heel: Providing spatial awareness and comfort in crowded areas.
✔ Nightmare Wake-Ups: Alerting and calming him during PTSD-induced nightmares.
✔ Anxiety Alerts: Detecting changes in emotions and offering grounding support.
✔ Emergency Assistance: While she is not large enough to physically help him up if he falls, Bridget will be trained to fetch help when needed.

Cooke explained that training PTSD service dogs goes beyond teaching obedience—it involves emotional awareness and behavioral reinforcement to ensure the dog remains present and engaged even in stressful situations.

"One of the key things we do with PTSD service dogs that we don’t typically do with other dogs is teach them to approach their handler even when they are angry, raising their voice, or in distress," Cooke explained. Many dogs instinctively retreat from loud or upset individuals, but service dogs must do the opposite—intervening and providing comfort during emotional distress.

The partnership with AARP Wyoming allowed Mr. Sumer to receive Bridget without financial burden. The cost of a fully trained service dog can range from $20,000 to $60,000, making them out of reach for many veterans, especially those living on disability income—comparatively, Dogs and Tags charges $5000, a grant AARP Wyoming was able to provide.

AARP Wyoming sponsored Bridget through its Volunteer Veterans Advisory Council and its ongoing commitment to improving the lives of veterans in Wyoming. By focusing on meaningful support initiatives, AARP Wyoming aims to make a lasting difference for those who have served.

"With AARP Wyoming’s support, Bridget's training was fully covered. This partnership gave this veteran his life back," Cooke said.

Even before completing her advanced training, Bridget’s presence alone had a profound impact. Mr. Sumer, who had previously withdrawn from daily activities, is excited and hopeful. Paula shared that his wife said the transformation has been remarkable: " He went from being in a deep, dark hole to someone who is engaged and looking forward to each day."

Mr. Sumer mentioned that he has a lot of back pain: “Bridget will lay down next to me and provide emotional support, so while I’m still in physical pain, emotionally, I know my dog is there for me, and that really helps.” 

Bridget is not just a service dog for Mr. Sumer—she has become a source of support for the entire family. With multiple household members struggling with PTSD, the dog’s ability to provide emotional grounding has extended beyond her primary handler.

The need for service dogs like Bridget is greater than ever. Suicide rates among veterans remain alarmingly high, with Wyoming ranking among the states with the highest rates.

"The going rate for veteran suicides used to be 22 a day. It’s now 44 a day," Cooke shared, emphasizing the life-saving impact that service dogs can have. "I can tell you without a doubt—this program has saved lives. It has saved marriages."

Mr. Sumer shared that since their family got Bridget, she’s brought happiness to their family: “We’ve all laughed a lot more, she’s an integral part of our family when she’s gone getting her weeks of training done, we’re in a funk, she goes everywhere with us and doesn’t leave our side.”

Dogs & Tags continues its mission to make service dogs affordable and accessible to those who need them most. While funding remains a challenge, partnerships like the one with AARP Wyoming offer hope for more veterans to receive the critical support they deserve.

For Mr. Sumer and his family, Bridget is more than a service dog—she is a lifeline. When asked what he would tell other veterans considering a service dog, he said, “Don’t be reluctant like I was; I jumped from bridges when I was in the service, I blew stuff up and always believed I didn’t need any assistance, but I do, and she’s made a big difference in my life, get the dog.” 

When asked what Bridget might say about her new job, Cooke laughed:
"She’d say, ‘I’m a happy girl!’"
And it’s clear—so is the family whose lives she is changing.

AARP Wyoming is committed to supporting veterans and their families through meaningful initiatives like this. You don’t have to be an AARP member to participate in our events and activities. To learn more about upcoming programs, visit aarp.org/wyevents.

Interested in volunteering to make a difference? Email Jennifer Baier at jbaier@aarp.org for opportunities to get involved.