Disaster and fraud trainings
AARP Maine is teaming up with the American Red Cross of Northern New England to host volunteer trainings on disaster preparedness and fraud prevention for adults 50-plus in October and November.

During the half-day trainings, Red Cross officials will cover safety tips, tools and resources to prepare for and respond to emergencies, while AARP staff will discuss common scams and ways to protect yourself from fraud. To find dates and times and to sign up, visit states.aarp.org/maine/redcross.

AARP Maine hopes those who attend the trainings will deliver the presentations to their own communities.

“Both training topics are important for safely aging in place,” says Jane Margesson, communications director for AARP Maine.

Caregiver support
AARP Massachusetts will host a virtual series on caregiving in November to mark National Family Caregivers Month.

The free sessions are slated for Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 30 (all Thursdays) at 7 p.m. On Nov. 9, there will also be a session at noon. Topics include the essentials of caregiving, caregiving financials, medication literacy, the pillars of brain health, and downsizing and decluttering your living space.

In a 2022 AARP survey, 6 in 10 Massachusetts residents age 45-plus said they were either currently providing unpaid care to an adult relative or friend, or had done so in the past. Providing support to family caregivers is one of AARP’s biggest priorities.

The sessions are open to all, but registration is required. To learn more or to sign up, visit aarp.org/caregivingma.

Advocacy win
In the 2023 legislative session, Vermont lawmakers passed a bill, now law, to modernize the state’s power of attorney laws and update protections to prevent power of attorney abuse.

The new measure—which AARP Vermont pushed for—includes a simple power of attorney form that anyone can use with or without a lawyer. As people age, a POA is an important legal tool used to appoint a trusted family member or friend to handle their financial decision-making.

Thinking Ahead Roadmap, a project supported by an AARP grant, provides guidance for older adults on how to protect their money and avoid financial mistakes. To learn more and start your financial caregiving plan, visit thinkingaheadroadmap.org.

Learn about Social Security
The 2024 presidential primary season in New Hampshire is a great time to learn more about Social Security and find out where the candidates stand on protecting the federal program.

Social Security’s trust funds—which pay out retirement, survivor and disability benefits—could run short of money in 2034 unless Congress acts to shore up its finances, according to the most recent report from the trustees who oversee the funds.

Seventy-six percent of Granite State residents 50 and older say Social Security is an extremely or very important issue in deciding their vote, according to a 2022 AARP New Hampshire survey.

“Social Security is your money—you earned it through a lifetime of hard work,” says Christina FitzPatrick, AARP New Hampshire’s state director.

Visit the AARP Social Security Resource Center at aarp.org/socialsecurity to brush up on key facts ahead of the primary.

Getting connected
If you have a fear of missing out, AARP Connecticut has an easy fix: Sign up for its emails.

It’s the best way to find out about an array of events and activities, from cooking classes to free museum tickets to car technology tutorials. About 400,000 active AARP members in Connecticut haven’t signed up for the emails.

If you are one of them, sign up by going to aarp.org/ct. Scroll down and look for the box on the right that says “Sign Up & Stay Connected.” You can also view events at aarp.org/ctevents. —Michelle Cerulli McAdams