AUSTIN, Texas – Llega puntual año tras año. La fecha límite para presentar su reporte de impuestos ahora está a sólo un mes de distancia y para quienes aún batallan para integrarlo, hay ayuda disponible en varias locaciones de todo Texas. La Fundación AARP está ofreciéndoles servicios gratuitos para la preparación del reporte de impuestos, con la ayuda de voluntarios certificados por el IRS en locaciones en todo Texas, a través de su programa Tax-Aide.

Los servicios están abiertos a personas de cualquier edad y nivel de ingresos, aunque el coordinador regional Ron Craig comenta que la mayoría de quienes acuden son adultos mayores de bajos ingresos.

"Los impuestos aterran a la gente. Y claro que, a medida que se hace mayor - y tuve ayer a un caballero de 91 años - mucha gente no tiene la cultura de la computación, no entiende la ley de impuestos y no le da seguimiento a la ley, por eso armamos todo esto."

Además de preparar el reporte, éste se presenta en forma electrónica sin costo con el programa Tax-Aide de AARP. Usted puede encontrar dónde y cuándo se ofrecen estos servicios en su región del estado, ya sea visitando los sitios de internet de AARP y el IRS o acudiendo personalmente a sus oficinas.

Si bien los servicios son gratuitos, hay varios documentos que la gente debe llevar consigo. Craig dice que incluyen una copia de su reporte del año pasado, y otros papeles:

"Necesitan tener una identificación con fotografía, tarjeta de Social Security y todos los documentos que hayan recibido de su banco, de su agente de bolsa, de su patrón, de los que tenemos que anotar los impuestos."

Presentarse con un altero de documentos fue precisamente lo que hizo una pareja mayor del área de Houston. En el equipo de la oficina de Tax-Aide estaba ese día Bart Hartfield, quien platica que por eso terminaron ahorrándoles miles de dólares. Durante su cita se descubrió que eran sujetos a varias penalizaciones ya que no habían hecho desembolsos de su cuenta de retiro, como lo exige la ley, porque no sabían que debían hacerlo. Así que Hartfield dice que los voluntarios llenaron las formas de la pareja y les aconsejaron acercarse al IRS.

"Les ayudamos a presentar los argumentos por los cuáles la penalización no debería aplicarse. El hecho de que no fue intencional. El hecho de que la compañía falló en notificarles con claridad cuáles eran los requisitos. Lo llevaron al IRS y eventualmente llegaron a un arreglo que les ahorró unos $7,000."

La asistencia se ofrecerá hasta el 15 de abril, fecha límite para presentar el reporte. Desde que comenzó en 1968, el programa ha ayudado a casi 50 millones de causantes en todo el país.

Más información en bit.ly/UBqXd6 o llamando al 888-227-7669.


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Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet.

Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access.

"Our goal through the broadband office and with all our stakeholders throughout Oregon is to provide access to all 112,000 unserved locations and as many of the 60,000 underserved locations as we can," Batz explained.

The state has received federal funding from a variety of sources, including nearly $690 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and more than $150 million from the Capital Projects Fund approved in the American Rescue Plan Act from 2021.

Oregon's Digital Equity Plan has also been approved and along with it, nearly $10 million in funding.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said there was a time when high-speed broadband internet was considered a luxury.

"Now, it's such a big necessity for everyone, including for older adults," Shrestha pointed out. "Because we know that if you don't have connectivity, you're not going to be able to see your doctor when you want to. Telemedicine is not going to be possible."

Batz added his office is working to ensure every Oregonian can get on the internet.

"It is an interesting challenge," Batz observed. "Nothing has been done like this in Oregon's history of trying to get internet access to everybody. So, it's going to be quite the challenge and it's absolutely going to require participation from everybody to make this happen."

Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.

Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.

House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.

Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.

"We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years," Nelson pointed out. "Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues."

Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.

State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.

Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.

"For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes," Nelson emphasized. "And of course, the staff of the nursing home that's in the community."

Census data show South Dakota's population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.

Meals on Wheels programs could be a powerful tool for addressing the needs of people living with dementia, according to a study from Ohio State University researchers.

The community-based program delivers weekly meals to food-insecure seniors.

Lisa Juckett, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Ohio State University, conducted interviews with caregivers, people living with dementia, and the staff of LifeCare Alliance, the largest Meals on Wheels provider in the state. She said the findings revealed delivery drivers are often a critical source of social interaction and an "extra set of eyes" on homebound individuals.

"That Meals on Wheels driver is then able to perform very brief but important wellness checks and safety checks," Juckett explained. "To make sure that meal is actually being delivered, the door is being answered."

According to Meals on Wheels America, last year more than 90,000 Ohio seniors received over eight million home-delivered meals through the program. More than 80% of people with dementia in the U.S. live at home, and an estimated 60% are unable to eat or prepare food on their own.

States rely on a combination of federal funding, private donations and fundraising agencies to keep local Meals on Wheels programs operating. Juckett added the findings come on the heels of Congress deciding to cut funding for the Older Americans Act, which allocates money to Meals on Wheels programs nationwide.

"Meals on Wheels programs are always on the chopping block, when it comes to federal budgets being adjusted every year," Juckett pointed out. "We need more advocacy efforts to validate or justify the importance of these programs."

According to the group Alzheimer's disease International, more than 55 million people around the world live with dementia, a number expected to double over the next two decades.