This Saturday is National Health Care Decisions Day, a reminder everyone should have plans in place in case they need medical attention and are unable to state their wishes.

Kim Callinan, president and CEO of Compassion & Choices, which advocates for medical aid in dying for people with terminal illnesses, said having medical directives for end-of-life care is important not only for the person, but for their family.

"One in two seniors now die with or from dementia, and unfortunately, most are not planning for what the end might look like," Callinan stated. "Without planning, you're leaving your loved ones and caregivers having to make just heart-wrenching decisions about the care you receive or do not receive at life's end."

She added there is an even greater need in the Latino community, which research shows is the group least likely to complete advance health care directives.

Compassion & Choices has an End-of-Life Decision Guide in Spanish as well as English.

Texas is among the top 10 states for Alzheimer's deaths, and of the estimated 6.2 million Americans over age 65 with Alzheimer's disease, more than half are women. Women are also more likely to have other forms of dementia.

Callinan noted advances in medicine have prolonged life for many people, but in some cases, it can also lead to years of suffering.

"With planning, you're able to disrupt the system and have a much more compassionate end," Callinan contended. "Without planning, you're subjected to a health care system that is going to focus on prolonging life, which in the case of someone with advanced dementia, often prolongs suffering."

Callinan acknowledged it is not easy to have such conversations with loved ones, but pointed out there are resources available to help.

"For National Health Care Decisions Day, I would encourage everyone to have conversations with their loved ones about the care that you would want at the end of life," Callinan urged. "In particular, use our Dementia Values and Priorities Tool, so that you can document your care preferences to safeguard your future."

In Texas, more than one million family members and friends provide unpaid care to people with dementia, putting in almost two billion hours a year, care which would otherwise cost the state more than $25 billion.

Three projects in Idaho have been selected to receive grants from the AARP Community Challenge. Among them is the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in Boise.

Dan Prinzing, executive director of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, which oversees the memorial, said they received a grant of more than $21,000 to install a permanent sound system.

"The Community Challenge grant enables us to really finalize a dream that we've had for a number of years, and that's how to amplify the sound within the memorial," Prinzing explained. "We're literally amplifying the message of the memorial."

The memorial is the only Anne Frank memorial in the United States, and is one of the few places in the world displaying the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also recognized as an international site of conscience. Prinzing pointed out about 120,000 people visit the memorial each year.

Prinzing hopes the memorial site can have the sound system installed by August 16, which will be its 20th anniversary. He added many people often come to the site to stand in solidarity with each other.

"The memorial is often used for community vigils when something happens nationally," Prinzing noted. "The memorial represents a place where we can come together."

AARP is funding 260 projects across the country through a total of $3.4 million dollars in grants. They selected projects to make cities more livable for people of all ages. The efforts must be completed by Nov. 30.

The other projects in Idaho include a remote locker system for the Emmett Public Library and an electric cargo bike, which will carry games and other items around Boise this summer.

A new tool aims to help older adults in Arkansas and beyond who receive Medicare track what happens at their doctor appointments. It also can help spot and prevent Medicare fraud.

My Health Care Tracker is provided by Senior Medicare Patrol and instructs recipients on how to compare the health care services, tests and medical equipment items they receive to what was billed on their Medicare statements.

Seth Boffeli, adviser for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, said Medicare fraud can be committed against both the government and against seniors enrolled in the programs. He advised the best way to stay safe from scams is to be your own detective.

"The way a lot of Medicare waste, fraud and abuse is caught is that people are careful," Boffeli observed. "They get that statement, they go through it, and they say, 'Hey wait. I didn't get this drug, or I didn't get this treatment.' And they're able to flag that."

As of late 2021, there were nearly 652,000 residents enrolled in Medicare in Arkansas, which is more than 21% of the state's population.

Arkansans can request My Health Care Tracker, in Spanish or English, by contacting the Arkansas Senior Medicare Patrol at 866-726-2916.

Boffeli explained catching fraud early is crucial because not only does it save people money, it could have ramifications for access to future care. He added there are small things Medicare recipients can do to prevent scams.

"It's just really important that when you're giving out your Medicare information, or you're agreeing to a test or a device that Medicare is going to pay for, that you're doing that in consultation with your doctor," Boffeli recommended.

AARP's Fraud Watch Network offers tip sheets on more than 70 kinds of scams affecting older adults. My Health Care Tracker also gives information about State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, which provide local insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families and caregivers.

This Friday, Iowa's new elder abuse law goes into effect. Those who pushed for its passage hope victims are aware of the added protections and will speak up about their situation, and supporters said the law covers a lot of gaps in state statute dealing with elder abuse.

The changes include a new crime addressing financial exploitation of an older individual, and there are enhanced penalties for assault as well as theft, when a person is targeted because of their age.

Anthony Carroll, advocacy manager for AARP Iowa, said such crimes often go unreported. Not only do they want to prevent incidents, they also want to inspire action.

"If you live in a community, you're concerned that someone that may be abused or isolated," Carroll explained. "Really making sure that you're being that good neighbor and coming forward. "

Carroll pointed out the law strikes a good balance in establishing accountability, while still allowing older adults to seek services from financial institutions and donate to trusted fundraisers. In addition to law enforcement, Iowa's six Area Agencies on Aging offer guidance, and AARP Iowa put more details of the new law on its website.

Laura Kriegermeier, elder rights coordinator for Heritage Area Agency on Aging in eastern Iowa, said they often receive calls from people concerned about abuse. She added seniors being taken advantage of by a loved one often worry about getting them in trouble. She hopes the new law convinces them authorities need to step in.

"Just like it's wrong for someone to abuse a child or to take advantage of a child," Kriegermeier emphasized. "There's consequences ... people go to jail."

Kriegermeier added in past situations, victims were often limited to seeking justice in civil court but lacked the resources to see the process through. She pointed out the new law provides tools for others to push these cases forward, if the person feels comfortable filing a report.

"The potential for this, with it being criminal, there could be a lot more justice," Kriegermeier predicted.