AARP Online Community: AARPco - My Journals & Blogs

'E Street' Episodes on RLTV This Week

If you tune in to RLTV this week, you'll catch these AARP TV "Inside E Street" episodes: "Cooling Down Drug Prices," "Investor Protection," "Power of Language," "Hurting for Nurses" and "Modifying Medicare." Watch the latter three online to find out how to end the nursing shortage, what changes to expect in Medicare, and how simple financial language can lead to better investments. More

Added: July 8, 2009
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New Online Database of State Driver Licensing Policies

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has released a new database tool that provides state driver licensing policies and practices, along with noteworthy mobility initiatives that affect older and medically-at-risk drivers.

The database appears in two sections. From the main page, the first link leads to Driver Licensing Policies and Practices. This section has a drop-down menu that allows you to see information from your state and compare it with others. The second link leads to Noteworthy Initiatives which has information for programs in 23 states pertaining to mobility and driving.

Added: July 8, 2009
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AARP Colorado 2009 End of Session Report

Learn how AARP fought for YOU in the statehouse, click on:

http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/misc/aarp_colorado_2009_end_of_session_report.pdf

Added: June 29, 2009
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Create The Good Toolkits Now in Spanish

To raise awareness of and engagement with AARP among Hispanic/Latino communities, Create The Good and AARP Segunda Juventud have joined forces to offer AARP's self-directed volunteering kits in Spanish. Tell your friends they can now launch their own Operation Energy Save or Operation Emergency Prepare, disseminate Home Safety Tips or help people manage drugs with RxSnapShot.

http://www.aarpsegundajuventud.org/spanish/aboutaarp/Create_the_Good/toolkits.html

Added: June 25, 2009
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Most Small Employers Face Low Costs to Implement Automatic IRAs

Most employers would likely face low costs to implement an Automatic IRA program for employees who do not have access to an employer-provided retirement plan, this report finds, allaying concerns about potential costs to small employers.

http://www.aarp.org/research/work/benefits/auto_iras.html

Added: June 25, 2009
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AARP MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF STONEWALL RIOTS

Media Contacts:
Meghan Holston,meghan.holston@coburnww.com, 212.382.4450

Michelle Alvarez, malvarez@aarp.org, 202.434.2555

AARP MARKS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF STONEWALL RIOTS WITH

LAUNCH OF EXCLUSIVE MULTIMEDIA REPORT ON ITS LASTINGIMPACT AND AMERICA’S 50+ LGBT COMMUNITY

WASHINGTON (June 24, 2009) –To commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a defining moment for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) movement, AARP today announced the launch of a multiplatform media campaign consisting of exclusive new online, television, radio and print content that includes contributions from many of the nation’s most prominent and outspoken members of the LGBT communities (available online at www.aarp.org/stonewall).

The exclusive online interactive features will include interviews and quotes from prominent leaders and 50+ members of the LGBT community including Martina Navratilova, Bishop Gene Robinson, Frank Kameny (gay rights movement pioneer), Joe Solmonese (President of the Human Rights Campaign), Michael Adams (Executive Director of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders)), Kate Clinton (celebrated humorist and author), Hilary Rosen (CNN contributor and Huffington Post editor at large), Sabrina Sojourner (the first openly Lesbian African-American to hold the title of U.S. Representative for Washington, D.C.), John Cepek,National President of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), David Carter (author of Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution), Martin Duberman (author of Stonewall), Eric Marcus (author of Making History: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equal Rights, 1945-1990), Michele Balan (comedian and finalist on “Last Comic Standing”), among others.

AARP TV will broadcast an episode of its national lifestyle program My Generation called “Stonewall: Milestone Remembered” and AARP Radio will feature an interview with Frank Kameny.

“AARP is a trusted resource and advocate for all American’s 50+ and that includes LGBT Americans,” said Dave Singleton, Director of Planning and Promotions at AARP Publications. “At AARP, we always reflect on the historical moments that changed our members’ lives and, for many of our members, the Stonewall Riots marked a pivotal moment in the fight for equality.”

Additional exclusive features on www.aarp.org/stonewall include:

· “Stonewall: Milestone Remembered,” a video report including a walking tour of the Stonewall site, as well as interviews with LGBT leaders, historians, authors, and Stonewall riot participants.

· An online photo timeline of LGBT history since AARP was founded in 1958, including the Stonewall Riots.

· Q&A’s with prominent LGBT figures Bishop Gene Robinson and political humorist/author Kate Clinton.

· Several articles in AARP’s publications (AARP The Magazine, AARP Bulletin, and AARP Segunda Juventud)addressing LGBT aging concerns and a first-person essay on the significance of the Stonewall Riots to an LGBT boomer about to turn 50.

· “Hispanics and the Fight for LGBT Civil Rights,” a special online feature on AARP Segunda Juventud’s, Web site.

· AARP Radio interview with civil rights pioneer Frank Kameny, now 84.

· Quotes from LGBT 50+ leaders about Stonewall.

· Interactive features on what visitors think of prominent LGBT figures. Who is most influential? Who’s done extraordinary things in the past 40 years, since Stonewall?

· A link to AARP’s LGBT online social network.

· “Coming Out at 50;” one man’s personal story.

· Original video features including “Stonewall: Milestone Remembered” and “A Conversation with Martina Navratilova.”

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin and AARP Bulletin Today, the go-to daily news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication and multimedia brand dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Added: June 24, 2009
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AARP Launches Money-Saving Prescription Drug Resource

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 23, 2009

Contact

Jeremiah Mora

jmora@aarp.org

303/764-5986

AARP Launches Money-Saving

Prescription Drug Resource

Online tool helps people avoid dreaded

“doughnut hole”

DENVER—By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.

The AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator, available at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole, guides visitors through their prescription drug options using localized information about their plans and prescriptions to determine if or when they will fall into the coverage gap. In about 15 minutes, visitors can view a graph of their out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for their conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to their doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions.

“Twenty-four percentof Colorado residents in Medicare fall into the gap each year, and millions more nervously wonder if they might fall in,” said Morie Smile, Acting State Director. “For the first time, people in Medicare have a simple way to learn if they’ll fall into the doughnut hole and find ways to avoid it by switching to safe, less expensive medications.”

As a part of its Health Action Now campaign, AARP is calling on Congress to close the doughnut hole and lower prescription drug prices so that no one has to go without the prescriptions they need to stay healthy. Yesterday, AARP joined President Obama to endorse an agreement by Senate leaders and the pharmaceutical industry that would reduce brand name drug costs for most people who fall into the doughnut hole by half. Research has shown people cut back on their prescription drugs when their costs become unaffordable, which can lead to more serious health conditions and larger health care bills.

Ms. Smile added: “Saving money on prescription drugs is going to mean pressing hard in Washington to close the doughnut hole; yesterday we were proud to help announce significant progress toward that goal. In the meantime, we also want to give Americans the tools they need to cut their drug costs and stay out of the gap in the first place. We encourage every person in Medicare to take a few minutes to find the right drugs at the lowest prices.”

The calculator is powered by DestinationRx as part of a special arrangement between AARP and Medicare. The data is the same used by the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, giving users the most accurate and up-to-date drug pricing information available.

For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Added: June 24, 2009
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AARP Rx Watchdog Report Newsletter Issues

The AARP Watchdog Report monitors the pricing, legislative and public policies of the world’s pharmaceutical manufacturers, and reports those policies, detrimental or beneficial, to our members and the American public. AARP is committed to advocating for responsible prescription drug prices through legal action, legislative policy and consumer education.

To view current or past issues, you will need a free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Current Issue:

June 2009, Special Edition
New Doughnut Hole Calculator Steers Part D Enrollees to Less Expensive Medications

Past Issues:

May 2009, Volume Six, Issue 4
Making the Case for Generic Biologics

Added: June 23, 2009
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State Health Care Briefs 09: Why Health Care Reform is Important

State Health Care Briefs 2009: Why Health Care Reform is Important is now available on AARP Policy & Research.

http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/state_hcb_09.html

This set of State Health Care Briefs provides a one-page overview of facts on health care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Added: June 23, 2009
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Virginian Wins AARP National Spelling Bee For "Word Nerds" Age 5

AARP crowned Michael Petrina Jr., 64, of Arlington, Virginia, the winner of the AARP National Spelling Bee, June 20. Petrina won the championship by correctly spelling “woad” and out-spelled 45 other spellers from more than 25 states who competed in the record-breaking Bee that lasted 46 rounds.

Petrina and runner up Scott Firebaugh, 55, of Knoxville, Tennessee, battled each other for 30 rounds to determine the winner.

The Bee was held at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Gil Couts, 66, from Bigfork, Montana finished third. A full list of finalists can be found online at http:// www.aarp.org/spellingbee .

“We’re thrilled that so many people from across the country came out for this year’s competition and we want to congratulate Michael for coming out ahead of the pack,” said AARP Wyoming Director Tim Summers. “Our Spelling Bee has continued to grow in popularity since it was created by AARP members 14 years ago, and the cognitive and social benefits of exercising your mind as you age make all of today’s participants winners.”

The AARP National Spelling Bee began with a 100-word written spelling test in the morning, narrowing the field to the top 16 spellers who advanced to the afternoon’s oral spelling rounds. Spellers were allowed to miss three words in the oral rounds before being knocked out of the competition.

The AARP National Spelling Bee was created in 1996 by a group of Cheyenne AARP members who wanted to challenge the 50+ community to keep their minds sharp as they age. It is open to anyone age 50 or older, except previous winners, and is supported by Merriam-Webster Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, Taco John’s Foundation, Franklin Electronic Publishers, the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wyoming Network, Inc., the Cheyenne Women’s Civic League, and the Laramie County Library System.

Registration for next year’s Bee, scheduled for June 19, 2010, is open at www.aarp.org/spellingbee or by calling 1-877-926-8300 .

“It’s great to see so many people dedicated to keeping their minds sharp and taking on the challenge of participating in the Bee,” Summers said. “We hope to see even more spellers compete in next year’s AARP National Spelling Bee.”

The top 10 finishers in this year’s AARP National Spelling Bee were (tied spellers are listed under the same number):

1. Michael Petrina Jr., 64, Arlington, VA

2. Scott Firebaugh, 55, Knoxville, TN (round 46)

3. Gil Couts, 66, Bigfork, MT (round 16)

4. Marlene Harry, 57, Brownsburg, IN (round 13)

5. Deborah George, 56, Livermore, CO (round 11)

6. Dr. Norman Zucker, 62, Sebastopol, CA (round 10)

7. Joan Saxton, 67, Sausalito, CA (round 8)

7. Carolyn Dickmann, 65, Richmond Heights, MO (round 8)

8. Kate Karp, 60, Long Beach, CA (round 7)

8. Dr. Kent Stockton, 67, Riverton, WY (round 7)

8. Joseph Dickmann, 65, Richmond Heights, MO (round 7)

8. Mary DeForest, 62, Denver, CO (round 7)

9. James Sherry, 57, Troy, AL (round 6)

10. Ed Dorschel, 60, Enumclaw, WA (round 5)

10. Lucy Morales, 57, Washington, D.C. (round 5)

10. Kathryn Pulver, 51, New York, NY (round 5)

Added: June 22, 2009
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My Journals (130)