COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio's 1.5 million caregivers face daily challenges, and it's a role that's even more complicated for the families of military members.

There are an estimated 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S., and their loved ones often are suffering from battle-inflicted wounds or are coping with unique physical or emotional needs related to their service. James Crawford, executive council with AARP Ohio, said many military families also are not living in a familiar community.

"They may be entirely separate from family support, and the primary-care provider can feel isolated and alone. That's a crucial element that can be difficult over the longer term,” Crawford said. “So that complexity makes caregiving for the military something that can be extraordinarily challenging. "

He said only 15% of military caregiving programs focus on the caregiver, so AARP has created a "Prepare to Care" guide. Crawford said it provides a fundamental look at what caregiving is, how to find supports, and specific services that are available for military members.

According to Veterans Administration data, of the 775,000 military veterans who call Ohio home, about 135,000 have a service-related injury.

Crawford said it's important to speak with a loved one about their health-care wishes, and develop a roadmap that can make the caregiving process easier.

"It requires a plan to be made, and that means that you have to find out who the providers are, you have to find out where the insurance coverage is, you have to find out - if they are still in the military - what services are available in what part of the world they are located in and how to access those services,” he said.

Crawford noted military caregivers often experience worse health outcomes, greater strains in family relationships and more workplace problems than non-caregivers. However, he said the good news is there are a variety of resources that military families can access for help that others can't.

"Some of the facilities that are available, if you can access those and you find out how to make the best use of them, can provide a quality of care and a comfort level for the provider and an ability to serve well without feeling burdened,” he said; “because the military has its own good strong network of how to support their own.”

The 44-page guide was developed in collaboration with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and is available online at aarp.org by searching "military caregiving.”

Indiana ranks closer to the bottom of U.S. states where you will find healthy seniors living than the top, according to a new report. UnitedHealthcare's 2023 Senior Report provides a portrait of health and well-being of older adults across the United States. The report marks the second consecutive year for the Hoosier state at the 35th spot. Only nine states fare worse than Indiana for early death.

Rhonda Randall, Chief Medical Officer with UnitedHealthcare, said the premature death rate - which means years lost before age 75 - has increased four percent in the nation.

"The percentage of people over the age of 65 has had a decline because of that - we still have more people turning 65 and having that birthday into their Medicare years," she said. "But it's concerning that we're losing such a significant amount of our nation's greatest treasure - right? Our seniors."

Randall added the report consists of 52 different measures of senior health across five different categories which include: socioeconomic factors, the physical environment where seniors live, the clinical care received, plus behaviors and health outcomes.

Findings suggest Indiana faces challenges with its high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. However, one of the state's strengths is avoiding care due to cost. Randall said this year's report finds recent shifts in long-term trends, and highlights disparities in the health of older Americans.

"This is the 2023 edition of America's health ranking Senior Report. It's the eleventh time that the United Health Foundation has published a report specifically on the health of older Americans. It's built on over three decades of America's health ranking data," she added.

Some Illinois senior centers aren't just focusing on the 65+ demographic but are beginning to include people aged 50+.

The U.S. Census indicates the population aged 45 and older accounts for 42% of the total population, up from 27% in 1940.

Tracey Colagrossi, senior center manager for the Village of Arlington Heights, said the aging population in Illinois is changing and people are looking for more engaging community involvement.

"As people want to age in place, the majority of us will not go into nursing homes," Colagrossi explained. "It is not the norm to go into communal living. So just as you go to schools when you are younger, there is school for that and then there is work, and then senior center is that third place where people still have that opportunity to gather and learn."

Some senior centers across the country such as The Village of Arlington Heights in the Chicago area offer free drop-ins. Colagrossi noted people aged 50 and older receive priority registration for programs and special events, while persons younger than age 50 may register at no additional fee, provided space is available at the center.

Aging in Illinois can have its perks too. Many older adults can take advantage of discounts and free services offered by the Illinois Department of Aging and also services offered by volunteers at senior centers.

Colagrossi pointed out her facility offers many options for older adults to get resources and help in their day-to-day life, but also offers so much to the slightly younger population to be more involved in the community.

"We should be talking about Gen X, frankly," Colagrossi acknowledged. "That is a population who's 55 and growing older. That opportunity to give back is appealing for Gen X as well as more active ways like kayaking, hiking, indoor sky diving so more of like adventurous types of things like that, and it breaks the mold of what you think a senior center is."

The Village of Arlington Heights Senior Center offers ways for individuals to give back to the community. In 2022, more than 1,600 people volunteered a total of more than 14,000 hours.


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As the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, senior centers in Virginia are welcoming back their participants, and one in particular has shifted some of its focus to the environment.

A National Council on Aging survey found senior centers provide a sense of connectedness for older people who might otherwise face barriers to making friends and being part of their community.

Charlottesville's Center at Belvedere offers myriad services and programs, but has taken a keen focus on environmental wellness.

Peter Thompson, executive director of the Center at Belvedere, said the programs have become a staple of the center's activities.

"Environmental wellness is a part of our mission," Thompson explained. "It's part of our program model that environmental wellness is important, just as spiritual, emotional, physical, intellectual, etc. It's long been a part of our history."

The Center has partnered with the Piedmont Master Gardeners to develop a horticulture club. The club helps people become better home gardeners and help work on a pollinator garden. Other programs in the same vein include bird watching.

Thompson pointed out reaction to the programs has been favorable. He noted the Center's mission is to ensure people have access to information, and then trust they will do the best they can with it. He describes how people have taken this information into their own lives.

"Our participants approach us and say, 'I want to learn more about this,'" Thompson observed. "They trust us to be a neutral source of, you know, 'Here's the information.'"

He added the Center itself is also working to become more environmentally conscious. In partnership with the Community Climate Collaborative's Green Business Alliance, they have established their own climate goals. They are working to reduce operating costs by "greening" their energy use and using solar and other renewable forms of power.