Seattle ranks high among the nation’s communities in AARP’s latest Livability Index platform—a distinction that comes after years of work by the community to support aging residents.

The city is No. 3 among very large communities (population 500,000+) in the December 2025 report.

Other western communities ranking in the Top 10 for their population size were No. 1 San Francisco and No. 9 Portland, Oregon, among very large cities, and No. 4 Salt Lake City among large cities (population 100,000 to 499,999). The index assesses housing, transportation, health, engagement and other factors. It shows how well communities support people as they age—and where gaps remain.

While Seattle’s strong ranking reflects years of age-friendly planning, AARP Washington State Director Marguerite Ro says, “The reality is that there’s a lot of work left to be done.”

Among the top concerns, she says, is affordability. Indeed, housing costs are a central concern for the city government’s decade-old Age Friendly Seattle initiative, says Dinah Stephens, who manages the program.

“We’re seeing older adults needing to leave homes that they’ve lived in for a long time because they can no longer afford to live there,” she says.

Zoning changes that allow more housing types across neighborhoods and incentivize accessible design could have generational impact, Stephens adds.

She says the initiative’s most impactful work to date includes digital community building, a discount directory and efforts with partners to help people with disabilities navigate transportation options. The city has also provided anti-ageism training to more than 2,000 people.

Learn about AARP’s index at aarp.org/livabilityindex and the city’s program at seattle.gov/agefriendly.

—Christine Bedell

Protect yourself AARP Alaska is gearing up for a series of events to help you be on alert for the latest scams.

The prevention effort begins on Wednesday, April 1, at noon, with fraud bingo at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center. On Tuesday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m., the center will host a discussion on elder fraud featuring experts from the FBI, the state’s Senior Medicare Patrol and the Federal Trade Commission.

AARP will also offer document-shredding services on Wednesday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the senior center. Shredding old financial papers and other records can keep your personal details out of the hands of scammers—thus helping prevent identity theft.

Find more information and registration links at aarp.org/events/find.

Caregiving help Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the state are family caregivers, according to a recent report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving. In response, AARP Hawai‘i is highlighting available support and urging legislative action.

The leading edge of baby boomers turns 80 this year, an age after which they may be more likely to need caregiving, says AARP Hawai‘i communications director Craig Gima.

AARP offers workshops and online resources at aarp.org/caregiving. On the policy front, it’s pushing for state and federal caregiver tax credits, paid family leave in Hawai‘i, and ways to address the shortage of trained, paid caregivers.

“We can’t keep pushing this issue off to the future,” Gima says.

Tax relief AARP is urging Montana residents who were 62 or older in 2025 to check their eligibility for the state’s elderly homeowner/renter tax credit. The credit can be worth up to $1,150 a year.

Even older adults who owe no taxes or earn no income can receive the refund. To qualify, Montanans must have resided in the state for at least nine months, rented or owned a home for six months, and had a household income of less than $45,000.

Residents can claim the credit on their Montana income tax return, or at revenue.mt.gov (search “elderly homeowner/renter credit”). Questions? Call 406-444-6900.

More information at aarp.org/states/montana/taxrelief. —CB