The future of Social Security is a priority issue for many voters across the country.

The interest on Social Security Trust Funds will run out of money by 2035 because the number of workers paying into the program is growing more slowly than the number of people receiving benefits. Without a change, Social Security benefits could be cut to 80% of what they pay out currently in a decade.

Cathleen Simlar, interim state director of AARP Idaho, said her group is holding a town hall Thursday, which can be streamed on the group's Facebook page or heard over the phone at 866-767-0637 at noon on Thursday.

"We're still in the big Baby Boom surge of people retiring and going on Social Security," Simlar pointed out. "This isn't going to lighten up any time soon."

About 370,000 Idahoans receive Social Security benefits, close to a fifth of the state's population. Simlar noted the benefit is the largest source of income for most of the people who receive them and beneficiaries also help put more than $6 billion back into the economy each year.

Simlar argued it is important for policymakers and leaders in Congress to remember Social Security is funded by workers themselves.

"They need to consider that for many Idahoans this is their primary income," Simlar emphasized. "People paid into this. It's their money. It's not an entitlement, it's not a benefit. It's their money."

Simlar acknowledged some solutions have been proposed, such as raising the wage cap for paying into Social Security, increasing the tax to pay for it and raising the retirement age. She stressed what is most important is people are involved in any changes.

"We're pushing that there'll be transparency in this process and in particular we want the public to have an opportunity to give input because this matters to people, this could really hurt people," Simlar contended. "The people in Idaho need to have their voice raised as the solutions are being discussed."

Increasing housing options for the state's seniors is at the top of AARP Iowa's priority list for the new legislative session and the group is pushing for a tax credit for Iowa's growing number of family caregivers.

A lack of housing reduces options for Iowa seniors who want to age in place. Accessory Dwelling Units can help address the problem, from a small house or cottage on the property of an existing home, or even a garage apartment.

Paige Yontz, state advocacy manager for AARP Iowa, said smaller housing units can be the difference between an older person staying in their home or having to find another place to live.

"Currently, those are not allowed in all communities across the state of Iowa," Yontz pointed out. "We are looking to expand access to this housing option by championing a statewide ADU law that would give all Iowans the right to build an ADU on their property, which would reduce unnecessary regulations and red tape."

AARP Iowa will also push for a tax break for the caregivers in the state who provide billions of dollars in unpaid services, mostly to family members.

The tax credit for family caregivers is designed to help offset the costs of services and care they provide, which is often more than $7,000 out of their own pockets.

"It would be a nonrefundable income tax credit that would allow working caregivers to claim up to 50% of eligible expenses when caring for a relative," Yontz outlined. "This would be capped at $2,000 per year, with an additional $1,000 available for individuals caring for veterans or those with a dementia-related diagnosis."

As the group has done in years past, she added AARP Iowa is working to help reduce fraud among the state's aging population, a target for a growing number of phishing and other information scams.

If you are a woman age 50 and older, and you provide care for a parent, a child, a loved one or neighbor, you are invited to sign up for a weekend cabin retreat in the wooded foothills near Allenspark.

Kriste Peoples, executive director of Women's Wilderness, is organizing the Trailblazer Radiance Retreat, a three-night getaway specifically designed for Colorado's hard-working women of color. She said the goal is to give caregivers a chance to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect - with themselves, with their peers, and with the natural world.

"Nature provides a really wonderful opportunity to lower our anxiety levels, to relieve symptoms of stress, to really help us feel better," she explained.

Thanks to financial support from AARP Colorado, a sliding-scale contribution will cover everything, including lodging, meals, gear and transportation to the renowned Sunshine Mountain Lodge. The deadline to register is next Friday, January 24th. Follow the "Trailblazer" link at 'womenswilderness.org.'

Marissa Volpe with AARP Colorado noted women of color are often the sole providers of care for their families and communities, work that mostly goes unpaid, and said they deserve some pampering too. In addition to exploring nearby trails and mountain vistas, participants can opt for professionally facilitated yoga, meditation and other activities.

"And to get some rest," she explained. "It's not a super packed weekend. You can rest if you just want to be fireside, and just reading. Or if you want to get outside and do that hike or snowshoe, or an afternoon craft."

Peoples added women of color are disproportionately the unsung heroines as caregivers at home and on the job, and they don't always have the time or money to attend a retreat where they can be cared for, supported, and feel replenished.

"We too often downplay the need for our own self care. We don't prioritize it. And this is the perfect opportunity to do that. So I would say, please don't think twice," she concluded.

Monday is the start of Arizona's new legislative session. Advocacy groups such as AARP Arizona are gearing up and say they're ready to work to ensure older Arizonans have the quality of life they deserve.

Brendon Blake, director of advocacy at AARP Arizona, said one of its priorities is a bill sponsored by state Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, which would allow family members to install a camera in their loved one's room at a long-term care facility.

Blake said they're eager to get to work with lawmakers, regardless of political party.

"It is meeting new faces, it is getting to have a relationship with members on both sides of the aisle and both chambers, so that way they know what we're all about," he said. "And I would say that is our biggest hurdle, is just getting to an introduction."

Blake said AARP Arizona also sits on the Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee, which will be meeting throughout the year to prepare legislation for 2026 to protect vulnerable adults. He suggested that all Arizonans learn about the legislative process and get involved.

Scammers stole close to $500 million worth of cryptocurrency last year. Blake said cryptocurrency scams are a growing issue in Arizona and around the country, but added that AARP Arizona will work to prevent them by educating folks on the risks of using cryptocurrency ATMs.

"People are putting their money, and in some cases their life savings, into a cryptocurrency ATM," he said, "and that is one thing that was brought to our attention that our national office has gotten behind us on, that we are hoping to work on as well - at the very least, educate legislators on this."

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 69,000 complaints from the public about financial fraud related to cryptocurrency.

Blake said people shouldn't be shy about reaching out to their legislators. He said many times lawmakers are more receptive to constituents than to advocates such as himself.

"Because they see me as someone who is getting paid to do this," he said, "and they see you as somebody who could impact their next election, especially in some of these really swing districts."