Friends & Family

Does anyone know where to start in look for a roommate... tks in advsnce

FROM ARTICLE. Looming Changes to Medicaid Could Hurt These Older Americans. Here’s How.Health coverage for millions of low-income older adults is at risk under new federal proposals. By Emily Paulin, AARP. *** There are 31 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published June 18, 2025.Off a bumpy gravel road that runs through the rolling hills of northwestern Louisiana, Chris Fertitta, 59, dedicates his days and nights to caring for his 85-year-old mother, Emily. Fertitta cooks, cleans, pays bills and manages medications as his mother’s full-time, unpaid caregiver. On good days, the duo sings Johnny Nash songs together and watches for blue jays from their front porch. On hard days, they try to navigate getting Emily, who uses a wheelchair, from the toilet to the shower safely.“There are pros and cons, like everything in life,” Fertitta says. “But I’d still do it all again." USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/politics-

Normally, How Much Data Do You Use In A Month on Your Cell Plan? Are you on a plan where you can carry some of your allowance over to the next month? If you don’t use that much data is it because you use your own WiFi or Hot Spot more? I rarely use any data but that’s because I do not travel around much at all - most everything I do is WiFi connected - so data usage is minimal.  It maybe different for others - I am just a home body most of the time.  And I carry over the majority of my data plan to the next month just in case I need it.   But it is almost time that I start looking for a new phone - Apple will stop support of certain models this year and next - think mine is next year.   Then I will evaluate a new plan to see if there are any others better suited for what I do - don’t think that is gonna change drastically anytime soon.  I cannot think of any scenario where I am gonna need more data allowance unless there is something that I

FROM THE ARTICLE: Your local grocery store has some tricks up its sleeve to inspire you to walk to the register with a full cart. By Nicole Pajer, AARP. *** There are 10 comments on the AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published June 03, 2025. You see employees at your grocery store stocking displays with fresh produce and replacing items on the shelves. But have you ever stopped to think about what goes on behind the scenes?A supermarket is a business with a whole corporate team focused on one goal: getting you to spend money — as much as possible. And grocery stores have some secrets, but they aren’t jumping at the chance to make them public. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/supermarket-secrets.html

FROM THE ARTICLE: The Treasury Department is kissing the penny goodbye. The five-cent coin might follow suit. By Andre Ellington, AARP. *** There is 1 comment on the AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published May 29, 2025. The U.S. Treasury Department recently ordered its last round of penny blanks — flat metal discs that get turned into coins — and said it will not put any more pennies into circulation after that batch is made.Why kill the penny? Because pennies cost a lot of money to make and distribute — 3.69 cents per coin, to be exact. And the U.S. issued more than 3.2 billion pennies during the 2024 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Mint, at a reported loss of around $85.3 million. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/history-of-the-nickel.html

▶️‌To reply, click on reply button at bottom of this post. Enter your text. Click reply button again.◀️ **READ comments, ADD comment** Do U agree/disagree with what they say about YOUR sign? 🤔 🗣by Tina Fey 5/30/23. 👉Link to information👈  Nicole 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 (Friends & Family Forum)

Put all this stuff on the back burner and get to the good stuff. What you cooking Monday? Am I going to be the only one at the grill and smoker? .Don't call the fire department that smoke is coming from my patio. Saw a recipe for ribs the other day and going to try. Cover them with yellow mustard (not a typo), then coat them with your rub and put in smoker. When they get close to done brush on your favorite sauce.   Going to have some beans in the smoker also. On the grill I'll do some taters and onions. You folks have a safe and fun weekend, and forget about diet, sugar, bp, clogged veins and what ever else, just eat and enjoy family. 

Grandparent Alienation has now affected millions, world wide. It has reached epic proportions. It is elder abuse as well as child abuse. It affects all types of families. A well rounded, outgoing grandparent changes immensely when this occurs. They are saddened for themselves and for the effect on their grandchild. 

FROM THE ARTICLE: As it turns 90, the program ‘matters more than ever,’ CEO says. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published May 14, 2025. Few things reach as broadly into American life as Social Security.Some 69.4 million people — about 1 in 5 U.S. residents — received a payment from the program in April 2025. Most of them are retired older adults, many reliant on their earned benefits to put food on the table and pay the bills. Almost every working American pays into the system via payroll taxes, with the promise that Social Security will be there for them, too, when they need it. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/social-security-milestone-90-years.html

FROM THE ARTICLE: AARP Pushes Back on Effort to Delay New Federal Nursing Home Staffing Standards to 2035.Rule offers dignity and safety to our most vulnerable Americans. By Natalie Missakian and Nancy Kerr, AARP. Published May 14, 2025. A plan to delay long-overdue minimum nursing home standards would cost lives and delay important protections needed for people living in nursing homes.In a May 13 letter to the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce, AARP noted deep concerns about a proposed delay to these standards, which would require an increase in staff at nursing homes and the presence of a registered nurse on-site at all times. The standards are set to take effect in stages starting in 2026, but this plan would delay them until 2035. Republican lawmakers are seeking cuts across federal programs to offset President Trump’s massive tax bill, which would extend and add to tax breaks. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-so

FROM THE ARTICLE: Order Takes Aim at Lowering Prescription Drug Costs.AARP also calls on Congress to protect and strengthen Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices for millions of older Americans. By Rachel Nania, AARP. *** There are 11 Comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published May 13, 2025. President Trump on Monday signed an executive order that aims to cut Americans’ prescription drug costs by bringing the price the U.S. pays for its medications in line with comparable developed nations.The order directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to communicate most-favored-nation price targets to pharmaceutical companies in the next 30 days. If manufacturers do not make significant progress toward these targets, additional steps could be taken, though many questions remain on how the plan will work, specifically, and when Americans could expect to see any potential savings. The order also intends to ensure that

FROM THE ARTICLE: By Sally Balch Hurme. Paperback, E-book. Put your life in order with this valuable new resource from AARP and the American Bar Association. Checklist for My Family guides you through the process of gathering in one place your finances, legal documents, online accounts, wishes about medical care and more. Plus it tells you what you need, why you need it, what’s missing and where to get it. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/books/bookstore/home-family-caregiving/checklist-for-my-family/

My attention was drawn to a court this weekend that allowed an artificial intelligence rendering to "testify" during the phase of the proceeding where family members attest to how the crime affected their family. The odd  subject matter is what caught my eye. The person attesting to how the killing affected the family and their thoughts about forgiveness came from the DEAD PERSON THEMSELF as a created A.I. rendering of the dead person. The court allowed it. This worries me.  What is to keep courts allowing renderings of dead bodies, renderings of mangled children, renderings of decedents with bullet holes visible...... A.I. can create anything.  In this particular case, the defendant got sentenced for more years than the prosecution was asking for. Who is to say that the A.I. talking directly to the judge didn't influence his thinking on sentencing? This is a "advancement" that needs to be "nipped in the bud" and strictly "controlled".  We h

The Farmers Market opened today. Good ole red ripe tomatoes not the store bought.Tomato and bacon sandwich just went to top of the menu at our house. Most of the stuff is coming from Fla. but that is ok.   

FROM THE ARTICLE: Bill would ease financial strain of caring for an aging parent. By Natalie Missakian and Peter Urban, AARP. Published May 06, 2025. RP is supporting bipartisan legislation on Capitol Hill that could provide some financial relief to the growing number of adults who care for aging parents.The Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act was introduced May 1 by U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Bill Cassidy (R-L.A.). It would allow caregivers to use their tax-free flexible spending or health savings accounts (FSAs and HSAs) to pay for qualified medical expenses of their parent or parent-in-law. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/lowering-caregiver-costs.html

FROM THE ARTICLE: The New Documentary ‘Aging in America’ Shows How Far We’ve Come.Director Neil Steinberg tells AARP what society is doing for the 50-plus: ‘Ageism is a bit better, but homelessness is worse’. By Tim Appelo, AARP. Published April 30, 2025. The documentary Aging in America: Survive or Thrive, narrated by Martin Sheen, 84 (on PBS starting in early May; check local listings), celebrates the encouraging progress society has made in dealing with aging as well as the daunting challenges still faced by a rapidly aging population. In 1975 there were 25 million Americans over 65; today it’s more than doubled to 55 million, and in 10 years the 65-plus will outnumber those under 18 for the first time. Director Neil Steinberg tells AARP what we can learn from the expert testimony and personal stories featured in the film, how far we’ve come in dealing with aging and what remains to be done. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/m

I have noticed of late in my Google News Feed, SEVERAL discussions on this topic. [1] Do you think it should be banned? [2] Has it been banned in YOUR location? This can be the United States or a foreign country. Thanks,Nicole  👵  (Friends & Family Forum)

FROM THE ARTICLE: AARP Foundation Experience Corps celebrates an anniversary. By Elise Ceyral, AARP. Published April 29, 2025. Laurie Bowers, 73, owes a lot to being a good reader. “Not everyone needs a college degree, but everyone needs to be able to read, write and communicate,” Bowers says. A former report technician for the police department, Bowers has been teaching reading to students in Buffalo, New York, for six years as a volunteer with AARP Foundation Experience Corps.Launched in 1995, the program pairs elementary school students with older adults with one goal: improve the kids’ reading skills before the end of third grade. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/experience-corps-celebrates-30-years.html

FROM THE ARTICLE: 10 Simple Financial Tasks You Can Tackle in an Hour.You won't believe how much you can accomplish — and save — in just a few minutes. By Daniel Bortz, AARP. *** There is 1 Comment on the AARP website. Stop by to add yours. *** Published April 28, 2025. Have 60 minutes to kill? You could spend it watching TV or playing games on your smartphone. Or you could spend it saving money, by ticking some easy but important financial tasks off your to-do list.Get one — or more — of these 10 smart money moves accomplished on your next lunch hour. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/quick-easy-financial-tasks.html

FROM ARTICLE: AARP has championed state efforts to help those without access to workplace retirement plans build savings. By Kenneth Terrell, AARP. Published April 22, 2025. LaVante’ Dorsey knew that before her business could focus on helping young women, she first needed to take care of her employees.Since it opened in Newark, Delaware, in 2018, LaVante’ N. Dorsey & Associates has provided mental health and therapeutic counseling services to help women — and men, too — feel empowered and reach personal goals. But it couldn’t provide a retirement benefit to the seven therapists on staff. Like many small businesses, it didn’t have the resources. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2025/auto-ira-one-million-savers.html

I took care of my daughter, my niece, and sometimes my nephew.  They suffered from emotional and physical abuse at times.  My daughter is now a doctor, my nephew a pharmacist and my niece a nurse.  I believe the reason they are all doing well is I took them places and showed them how to enjoy themselves at an early age.  I think the best way to help our communities is for aarp to work with our communities to help preschoolers and after school programs to take kids to places around the community, zoos, museums, nature.  It’s a win-win for lonely seniors and helping our children be prepared for school and less susceptible to gang and criminal influences.  Especially low income families who are struggling.

How to find a person to take care of your needs when you are the only one. That consists of friends lawyer who do you trust. Can you have someone that you pay to take care of your well being.  If you be come sick who can you rely on to take care of issues. Yes theirs a will lawyer is in charge but can you trust a lawyer to do the right thing and honor your wishes.  With layers being busy how can you rely on them. What to do all by one self. 

Living in Arizona, I love the fact that I don't have to deal with the "Spring forward" and the "Fall back" any more.  Would you want to keep DLST or get rid of it?

 Click here for an easier-to-read version.  HAPPY HOLIDAYSHere's an easier-to-read version.  

  2024 Holiday get togethers will be interesting this year!  Many conversations may start with family talking around things that concern them but they can easily escalate to hateful commentary.  This can happen even when someone mentions the high cost of the meal or the cost to fill the gas tank for travel.   How do we avoid the 'triggers' of a conversation?  "Nice Day" or "Have a blessed day." can be mistaken by someone just looking to irritate another.   Topic suggestions?