Updated 2:00PM to include AGE+

PORTLAND, Ore. - About one in 11 Oregon children from birth to age four lives with a grandparent. With the 2020 Census quickly approaching, AARP Oregon and other groups are stressing that grandparents should make sure their grandchildren are counted.

The undercount of young children is a growing issue. The 2010 Census missed an estimated 2 million children, and the undercount rate has tripled since 1980, while declining for other age groups.

"It's pretty critical for grandparents to understand that if the adult isn't being a functioning parent, then they're probably not going to worry about whether or not that child's counted," said Joan Dingle, who has experience as a grandparent raising a grandchild and monitors support groups for these grandparents for Oregon-based Jessie F. Richardson Foundation and its companion organization AGE+. "So, better to step up and include them if they're living with you in your household than to say, 'Oh, gosh, I think the parent might.'"

According to Census Bureau researchers, grandchildren, foster children and other non-relatives are far more likely to be left out than are biological or adopted children of the householder. For children splitting time between two homes, the Census Bureau suggests counting from wherever they are living on April 1, 2020.

Dingle stresses that getting an accurate census count is critical because it determines how state and federal dollars are allocated.

"A number of benefits, including the health-care program and foster care, and also adoption care and some of the follow-up services that they can offer relatives, comes about in part by how many children are being raised," she said. "So, it's extremely important."

Because of the number of children missed in 2010, states lost out on more than $500 million for five programs covering such policies as children's health care and foster care.


get more stories like this via email

Next Monday marks the beginning of "PROTECT" week, when AARP helps seniors learn the signs of financial fraud.

Experts say Maryland seniors can protect themselves and their finances through education. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost nearly $5 billion due to fraud in 2024, increasing 25% from the previous year. A poll from the University of Michigan found 75% of adults from ages 50 to 80 experienced a scam attempt, and 30% experienced fraud.

Karen Morgan, a member of the AARP Maryland executive council, said a government agency would never call someone out of the blue if there's a problem.

"If the caller is asking or demanding that you do something immediately, that's a huge red flag," she said. "If they're telling you that there's something urgent that you're about to be arrested, that's a huge red flag. You can't get arrested over the phone."

Victims age 60 and older experienced an average loss of more than $80,000, according to AARP.

Jane Dean was a victim of senior financial fraud. She received a call from someone posing as a government agent for the Social Security Administration. Eventually, she paid the scammers more than $25,000.

She said one of the biggest lessons from her own fraud case is taking a pause when you receive an alarming call. She explained that thinking the situation through could save someone from losing thousands of dollars.

"They just need to stop. Stop and just dial it back when you find yourself in a heightened emotional state in response to either a text, phone or email," she said. "That's the most important thing. Put the brakes on."

AARP is streaming a number of free workshops, town halls and interviews on elder financial abuse from Monday through June 20.

June is Brain Awareness Month, and experts say Virginia seniors should consider decluttering their homes to improve brain health.

According to an expert with Hacksensack Meridian Health, decluttering can decrease stress, improve sleep quality, and increase focus.

Leslie Pendleton, community ambassador with AARP Virginia, said she often sees two types of seniors who want to declutter - those who have retired, and those who have begun to experience health struggles.

"Health issues that crop up that are signs that people need to start thinking about downsizing," said Pendleton, "and to downsize, you've got to declutter. That's the first part of the process. You can't take it all with you, in other words."

Experts with Nuvance Health says clutter makes it difficult for your brain to focus on one specific thing, splitting your attention and causing sensory overload.

They say constant sensory overload can lead to increased mental fatigue.

But who should be involved in the decluttering process? Many seniors have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews that may desire to keep some of their relative's treasures.

Pendleton said having a plan about who gets what is essential.

"It can create family turmoil if the person who is downsizing and decluttering doesn't already have some form of an estate plan in place, a will," said Pendleton. "They haven't necessarily thought out who they want to have what, so that's part of the process too."

Pendleton added that younger people are part of what she calls the 'IKEA generation,' often having less clutter and wanting less things.

Those interested in learning more can are encouraged to sign-up for an upcoming ARP Virginia decluttering workshop led by Pendleton.

Memory care facilities in Arizona have a new set of rules intended to improve quality of care for patients and ensure more accountability for providers.

Brendon Blake, director of advocacy for AARP Arizona, said the set of rules, approved by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council last week, are a big win and an improvement over what he said had been a lack of guidance for facilities.

The changes are a result of House Bill 2764, signed into law last year. Blake pointed out the rules should fill in gaps by requiring dementia-specific training for memory care staff and managers, stricter monitoring and enforcement, and new procedures to prevent those with dementia from walking out.

"Right now, there's no statutory or regulatory standard that's being held to," Blake explained. "It's really on the consumer themselves to do a ton of work, in an interview with that facility, to know if their level of what they call 'memory care' is really actually best practices across the country."

The new rules are set to take effect July 1, although the Arizona Department of Health Services is expected to give facilities a grace period to come into compliance. Blake added the rules also increase penalties for facilities not in compliance or repeat offenders.

Blake stressed the new rules are the result of 18 months of work. While some have expressed concerns they might be too vague, he argued they are a huge step in the right direction.

"The problem with being too specific is that Alzheimer's disease may be the most common form of dementia, but it is not the only form of dementia," Blake noted. "We want training to be robust enough that it can still cover a lot of ground, so that way, staff and managers can handle all kinds of dementia."

To those considering a memory-care facility, Blake encouraged people to ask how they plan to start implementing the rules.

"Is it commensurate with the training that is being required of them now?," Blake asked. "On the facility side of things, I think it is important that all of them know that the department has committed to continuing to do stakeholder meetings, to provide assistance."