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Friday, February 7, 2025

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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

AARP event prepares Virginians for life after 50

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Friday, March 8, 2024   

The goal of an AARP Virginia event this weekend is to help people prepare for their 50s and beyond.

The "Life at 50-Plus Academy" is a half-day workshop full of tips and tools for people to use as they look ahead to their senior years. The workshops will center around topics such as estate planning, brain health and Social Security.

David Slupe, financial advisor and director of Aging Consultants Group, said it's important for people to plan ahead, and one thing they're not always prepared for is the need for care.

"We all save for retirement, and that retirement nest egg is supposed to create income," he said. "And once you face a caregiving episode, that income has to increase by an order of magnitude that we don't really plan for."

When care expenses rise, Slupe added, retirement savings shrink faster. One estimate of the median rate for in-home care in Virginia is $30 an hour - or more than $62,000 a year.

The Life at 50 Plus Academy is Saturday at Arcola Church, 24757 Arcola Mills Drive in Dulles. Register online at states.aarp.org/Virginia and click on "upcoming events" or call 877-926-8300.

Along with the workshops, the keynote address is from Dr. Pamela Saunders, director of the Aging and Health Program at Georgetown University. It will center around reframing aging and reconciling a person's mental and physical ages.

Slupe said he thinks that discussion and the workshops will provide key takeaways on what getting older means.

"Both through Dr. Saunders' unique sort of studied approach to look at aging, and preserve the wisdom and the benefit and the power of aging - and then, combine that with some of the practical educational modules - we hope that people will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, but also with renewed confidence," he said.

He said that confidence comes from knowing they'll have a toolset to use, no matter what path they take in the second half of life.

Disclosure: AARP Virginia contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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