Friends & Family

Would love to hear others thoughts on this topic... I work full time as a nurse so I have a lot of social interaction there, but am not socially active with co-workers as very few are: 1. single and 2. over 50.  I live out in the country, alone. I do not have children.    And do many activities alone such as hiking, riding my motorcycle, camping.  I do not feel lonely,  but I worry that I am isolating myself and may regret not being more social as I age.  Particularly after I retire ( still 9 years away).I do have a few friends, but they don't live particularly close by, and I do make sure to get out with them 2 or 3 times a month.  I am not religious and joining a church isn't an option for me.  What are you other single folks doing?  Give me some advice!  Thanks. Jypsy Janet 

  Hi All,I'm wondering if anyone would like to start a penpal group and put pen to paper for snail mail letters. Of course, initially, it would be email, but I'm an advocate of handwritten letters and it would progress to that. I think letter writing on paper makes both the writer and receiver of the letter enjoy the experience. I'd love anyone's thoughts on the subject.

I wanted to help, so I cleaned out the boxes in our garage and put the boxes and 8 item on Offer Up. It read I cleaned my garage out and these items are free. One man took 4 items and 8 boxes. He'll sell them to help support his family.  An elderly couple who could hardly walk took 2 boxes and 4 items to supplement their retirement.The other 4 items when to ladies who could afford them.  Yes, I could have bartered, but I'm doing okay. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. My next project is sewing and knitting clothes for premature babies and mail them to the hospital in low income areas.  Clothes are expensive for the little one. I was asked to make some totally white for the families who suffered the lost of their little one.For those of us who have the time and left over matteral. There are patterns on-line for premature babies, or 18 inch dolly pattern will do. They need help, so if you have the time why not help. Take care. 

Hi you can call me Hubert G.I remember when I was in high school about 50 years ago. My horticulture teacher visited my house to help arrange my mother Violar plants and flowers in her yard. This was to help me with my grades in school. She agreed. Everything was going fine until the teacher wanted to move certain flowers. Mom said, "You'r not going to move this flower." When everything was over I got an excellent grade in his class. Mom said, "The yard do look better." She always try to be encouraging to her 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls. Dad did too in his on way. He was a hard worker. He showed us how to work. We were a Sharecropper family during the 1930's to 1960's. We moved off the farm into our own house, that we had built by picking cotton to pay for it. (The house is still there today in Lynchburg, SC with the magnolia tree in the front yard)  We move off the farm in our own house. What a happy day! Dad wa

Are you estranged from a family member? Have you attempted to reconcile? Share your story and read what others have to say. Join the discussion by posting a reply below.

 I  just received a BAG full of groceries from AARP Virginia compliments of my LOA (local office of aging). Fell 12/6/25 on Black Ice at age 67. Fractured ankle in 2 places. Anyway, had NO idea this was happening!!! Nicole 🤗💛 

Last few years have seen a tremendous increase in the demand for emotional support animal letters. It is one of the ways that help to ensure that you and your pet are not denied of any necessity at all. But, still, many are unaware of benefits associated with ESA. This article focuses on one of its primary benefits and how it can transform your way to visualize the world.

FROM THE ARTICLE. Progress in Creating Livable Communities for People of All Ages. By Rodney Harrell, AARP Public Policy Institute. Published February 03, 2026. With the right tools and support, people have the power to improve communities for residents of all ages. Keeping that in mind, our AARP Livable Communities team created the AARP Livability IndexTM platform and manages the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities (AARP age-friendly network) to help residents measure and support their progress towards making their neighborhoods more livable. Now there is new evidence that those efforts have indeed had a positive impact on the lives of older Americans. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/livable-communities/livability-index-data-progress-livable-communities/

FROM THE ARTICLE.  Affordable Housing in Ohio Key to Aging in Place. With limited supply and high costs, AARP Ohio is promoting affordable housing initiatives across the state, such as revised zoning laws to allow accessory dwelling units. By Sarah Hollander, AARP. Published January 19, 2026. While record-high property values are a boon for many Franklin County homeowners, the accompanying rise in property taxes has left some older residents feeling pushed out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for decades.  With a lack of affordable housing options and a limited homestead tax exemption, older adults “feel like they’re being punished,” said Michael Stinziano, Franklin County auditor.  Working together with AARP Ohio, his office is conducting a study to seek ways to ease the burden.   “At the root of it, if you don’t have stable and quality housing, it’s really hard to have everything else, from health security to financial secu

FROM THE ARTICLE. 5 Ways AARP Is Fighting to Keep Heat and Electricity Bills Affordable. We’re battling rate increases to keep costs within reach for older adults. By Molly Snow, AARP. Published January 15, 2026. Older adults are contending with higher prices on almost everything, and utilities are no exception.​Nearly two-thirds of older Americans say their electric bill has gone up recently, and 83 percent fear it will climb even higher, according to a 2025 survey by AARP Research. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/affordable-utilities-older-adults/

FROM THE ARTICLE. A New Chapter in Our Shared Story. Valuable lessons learned from a year listening to you. By Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO, AARP. Published January 08, 2026. The past year was my first as CEO, and I spent lots of time listening and learning from the remarkable people who embody our mission every day. And now we turn the page together to a new year full of energy and possibility. AARP enters 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose as the experiences and aspirations of 125 million Americans age 50-plus guide our work. Across the country, I’ve seen our mission come to life through the stories of our members. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/ceo-lessons-learned-first-year/

FROM THE ARTICLE. A grant program to make communities more livable for people of all ages with tangible improvements that jump-start long-term change. Page published January 7, 2026 . Since its inception in 2017, the AARP Community Challenge has awarded 2,100 grants totaling $24.3 million to projects that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — and accelerate community change. AARP is accepting applications for the 2026 funding cycle that: (1) Deliver tangible improvements to communities, such as new crosswalks, benches, bike lanes, housing designs, and public space enhancements. (2) Leverage additional support from public, private, and philanthropic sources. (3) Help communities overcome policy barriers and implement lasting change. (4) Foster new collaborations and increase community engagement. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2026/2026-challenge.htm

FROM THE ARTICLE. People ages 50 to 64 are struggling to afford health care coverage — and consider going without — as their monthly premiums skyrocket. By Miriam Cross, AARP. Published December 24, 2025. ReShonda Young’s Affordable Care Act health insurance helped pay for testing and diagnosis of her breast cancer last year. “The ACA has been a lifesaver,” she says.The 50-year-old small-business owner paid $94 per month for her gold-tier plan in 2025. But as she prepared to enroll for 2026, she saw that the monthly premiums would shoot up to $592. That’s a 500 percent increase. “I can’t go without, but I can’t afford to pay the premiums at basically $600 per month,” she says. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/aca-subsidies-affect-real-people/

I was just thinking this.  We used to go out caroling in groups as kids to Nursing Homes.  Do people still make rounds?  What a wonderful thing that was.  The joy on the resident’s faces.  

What decorations past or present, have you created for the holidays? Wreaths, centerpieces, placemats, tree decorations, garland, or anything else?   For a couple of Thanksgiving dinners, I've hollowed out miniature pumpkins and filled them with flowers for centerpieces on the tables.    In the past I've loved stringing popcorn, or cranberries and making garland strands for the tree. Or taking oranges and inserting whole cloves into them, then hang them in the house for a wonderful scent.    I think making things for the house or for others. helps with feeling in the mood for the holidays. 

If you remember the Vietnam years, you know those veterans did not come home to a cheering crowds who were proud of those men and women. We still owe them a thank you for their service.    Watch this , and try to keep from crying:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2L3skZ7FEw&feature=youtu.be

FROM THE ARTICLE. Millions of Americans are facing higher premium prices in the new year, and many say the cost is out of reach. By Rachel Nania, AARP. Published December 16, 2025. Millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance are bracing for steep price hikes in the new year. Monthly costs for marketplace plans are expected to more than double on average due to rising premiums and expiring tax credits, and older adults are among those expected to be hit hardest, given the already higher costs of their health plans. Soaring prices are causing many to consider downgrading their coverage or skipping it altogether, a recent KFF poll found. In fact, 1 in 4 poll respondents said they would be very likely to go uninsured if the amount they pay for health insurance each month doubled. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/health/healthcare/cant-afford-health-insurance/

FROM THE ARTICLE. VA Plans Health Care Reorganization Starting in 2026. Medical centers and clinics will not see staff cuts under new structure, veterans department says. By Aaron Kassraie, AARP. Published December 16, 2025. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on Dec. 15 plans to launch a major restructuring of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) but said the changes are aimed at reducing red tape and will not affect staffing at VA clinics and medical centers.Details of the plan will be announced in early 2026 and implemented over an 18- to 24-month period, the VA said. The department cited independent reviews dating back nearly a decade, which it said found the VHA to be “rife with middle managers who have overlapping responsibilities,” thereby slowing decision-making and the delivery of care. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE https://www.aarp.org/veterans/va-health-care-reorganization-2026/

FROM THE ARTICLE. What to Know About the New Tax Deduction for Older Adults.Who qualifies? How much is it? Does it affect Social Security? By Rocky Mengle and Andy Markowitz, AARP. *** There are 144 comments on the AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published July 08, 2025. Millions of taxpayers ages 65 and older got a big tax break in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”: a new $6,000 tax deduction, effective this year.The deduction, which AARP supported, will reduce tax bills for many older Americans, starting with their next tax filing and running through the 2028 tax year, after which it is set to expire. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/what-to-know-new-tax-law-2025.html

FROM THE ARTICLE. The New Rules of Tipping. Gratuity prompts are popping up everywhere. Here’s how to navigate today’s norms. By Cameron Huddleston, AARP. Published December 16, 2025. If you’re feeling pressured to tip at more and more places and in higher amounts, you have plenty of company. Two-thirds of consumers report a sense of obligation to tip when prompted at checkout to add a certain percentage to their tab, according to a September survey by Popmenu, a restaurant technology platform. And 3 in 4 Americans say tipping is expected at more places than in the past, a 2023 Pew Research Center survey found. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/navigate-tipping-culture-rules/

I have always gotten a real tree, 🌲 and have had struggles keeping the cat away from them.  Last year I bought a pretty brass Tree Collar, and that has helped somewhat.  At least the cat is not messing with the water in the tree stand now!  But the lights and decorations are another story, even though they’ve been placed further up.  I’ve tried squirting oranges around, as cats tend to not like that smell.  Works for a very short time. Anyone have luck with keeping their pets away from tree? Live tree or otherwise.

THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL GRIEVERS NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN [years,days]. To participate, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your comment. Click on reply again. Luv,Nicole 💛

This Thanksgiving, due to logistics, last minute family member’s health, hospitalization etc…..,we’ve opted for “Non-Traditional”.  We may do carry out of pizza or each of their own choice from someplace, together. Or stop by and drop something off.Which got me to thinking…That’s ok, why does it HAVE to be the same… and I wonder who else might be doing something different other than the standby traditional ham or turkey. I’ve know some families who highly enjoy their traditional family’s Italian dishes incorporated into their meal for Thanksgiving. The holidays can be hard for a lot of us, with members who have passed or moved.  So it got me wondering what others might be having, or not having.  

FROM THE ARTICLE. 20 Ways AARP Delivered for Older Adults in 2025Our talented, committed staff had a banner year creating products and services for you. By Michael Hedges AARP. Published November 24, 2025. It has been a challenging year for many older Americans, and AARP responded by defending the things that are most important to those 50 and older. We hope these efforts make you glad to be part of the AARP family. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/wins-of-2025/

Hi everyone,I’m Febby from Vancouver. I enjoy travelling, cooking, yoga, and meeting new people.I would love to make new friends here, especially people 50+ from the U.S. who enjoy a warm and friendly chat.Feel free to say hi, I'm happy to connect! 💛