Public News Service

The average Social Security payout is a little more than $1,500 per month for retired Idahoans. (Lane Erickson/Adobe Stock)

Future of Social Security in spotlight at AARP ID town hall

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 …

Telehealth was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic when Americans were under lockdown orders. (supamotion/Adobe Stock)

Report: Congress needs to act quickly, wisely on Medicare teleheath provisions

Telehealth has been key to health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some of the flexibilities for this type of care for Medicare …

AARP awarded the city of Marsing, on the Snake River, $15,000 to install an outdoor fitness court. (Cameron/Adobe Stock)

AARP grants of $49,000 support rural ID communities, housing

AARP has selected four projects in Idaho to receive $49,000 in grants. The projects were chosen by the organization's annual Community Challenge …

Older Idahoans have higher rates of volunteerism than younger people. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

ID award for volunteers who 'enrich lives' open for nominations

AARP Idaho is seeking nominations in the state for its prestigious award for outstanding volunteers. The Andrus Award for Community Service is named …

The AARP Community Challenge program has funded projects like community gardens. (Maria Sbytova/Adobe Stock)

AARP Community Challenge open to ID project ideas

A program to fund ideas for improving communities is now open to applications. The AARP Community Challenge grant program is accepting applications …

Researcher Luke Montrose installed air quality monitors into four nursing homes in Idaho in 2020. (Patrick Sweeney/Boise State University)

Indoor air quality in long-term care facilities suffers during wildfires

By Kylie Mohr for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Northern Rockies News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News …

Taxes are due on April 15, unless the filer requests an extension. (Pcess609/Adobe Stock)

Tax filing fears? Free assistance available in ID

People feeling stressed out about tax season have an option for free assistance in Idaho. The AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide program is setting up sites …

Family caregivers in Idaho provided 193 million hours of unpaid labor in 2021. (Evrymmnt/Adobe Stock)

ID officials recognize critical role of family caregivers

Idaho officials are holding an event in the capitol to recognize family caregivers during National Family Caregiver Month. Lieutenant Governor Scott …

More than one in five Idahoans receive Social Security benefits. (chuck/Adobe Stock)

Advocates urge Congress to fix Social Security before cuts necessary

Social Security is a critical benefit for older Americans, which is why advocates want Congress to start working now to ensure the program is …

To avoid scams, people are advised not to share personal information with unknown callers. (terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)

To prevent fraud, better to be 'rude' than 'robbed'

Fraud prevention experts are getting the word out in Idaho on how to avoid scams. Events across the state in October aim to help people identify and …

Only 29% of respondents to a recent AARP survey said they had a backup power generator. (Oleksandr/Adobe Stock)

ID Event to Help Idahoans Prepare for Disasters

Next week, AARP Idaho is holding a town hall on preparing for disasters before they strike. On Tuesday, the regional Federal Emergency Management …

Idaho lawmakers passed changes to voter registration during the 2023 session. (Mark Bradbury/Adobe Stock)

ID Voter Registration Law Could Hurt Ballot Measures' Chances

Voter registration has changed in Idaho. Along with reducing the number of eligible voters, critics say it could also hurt ballot initiatives' …

The Winchester Community Library has until Nov. 30 to build out its new garden. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Six Community Improvement Projects in ID Selected for Grant Funding

Six projects were selected in Idaho for a grant program designed to make communities more livable. AARP has announced the recipients of its annual …

About 28% of Idahoans volunteered with organizations in 2021, according to AmeriCorps. (Nicholas F-peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

ID Nominees Sought for Prestigious Volunteering Award

The nomination process is open for older Idahoans who have volunteered their time to help improve their communities. The Andrus Award for Community …

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program has nine sites in the Treasure Valley alone, and others across Idaho. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

Free Tax-Aide Program 'Goes Live' Across ID

Tax time is here again. Between now and mid-April, Idahoans in need of assistance can find free help across the state through the AARP Foundation's …

DTPlays, an electric cargo bike that carried outdoor games, a shade tent and water around downtown Boise in 2022, received a Community Challenge grant. (AARP Idaho)

Grant Program to Improve Communities Open for Applications

A grant program that helps with projects that benefit local communities is back. The AARP Community Challenge program selects projects for small…

A program that helps older folks find work connects people with a host agency for about 20 hours a week of paid job training. (hedgehog94/Adobe Stock)

Job Training for Older Folks Gets Boost from High Employment

A program that helps low-income older people find work may be getting a boost from an economy that's favoring employees. Easterseals-Goodwill's …

Working headlights are an important component of safe driving when it's snowing. (mario beauregard/Adobe Stock)

Snow It All: Safe Driving Tips for Winter in ID

Winter is coming, and that means slippery road conditions are around the bend. In Idaho, a program is offering tips on how people can drive safely …

The AARP Foundation's Tax Aide program will be available in about 40 sites across Idaho in 2023. (Creativa Images/Adobe Stock)

ID Tax Aide Program Seeks Volunteers for 2023

Another income-tax season is approaching and a program to help people with low and moderate incomes do their taxes for free is looking for volunteers…

The only memorial to Anne Frank is located in Boise. (Kencf0618/Wikimedia Commons)

ID AARP Grant Winners Include Anne Frank Memorial

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 …

A recipient for the Andrus Award recognizing a volunteer in Idaho will be announced in the fall. (Zoran Zeremski/Adobe Stock)

Nominees for Volunteer Award Apply Skills, Talents to Help Others

AARP has opened nominations for one of its most prestigious awards honoring volunteer work in Idaho. The Andrus Award for Community Service is named …

The first New Knowledge Adventure course for Idahoans in on March 15. (Koto Amatsukami/Adobe Stock)

Learning Program for Older Idahoans Aims to Keep Brains Active

Keeping our brains active as we grow older is key to our health, and an offering of courses in Idaho is helping people stay engaged. New Knowledge …

Cities like Victor, Idaho, have used Community Challenge Grant funding to increase accessibility to the area's library. (AARP Idaho)

AARP Opens Search for Community-Improvement Proposals

A contest from AARP to fund projects making places more livable is back. Now in its sixth year, the AARP Community Challenge Grant awards projects …

About a quarter of Americans nationwide and age 18 or older have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. (Kt Stock/Adobe Stock)

COVID Booster Shot Could Make Holiday Season Safer

BOISE, Idaho -- The holiday season is approaching, and one way to boost this time of year could be with a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine…

While Idaho is one of the least-vaccinated states in the country, almost 79% of residents age 65 and older are fully vaccinated. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Groups Call to End "Age Discrimination" in ID Care Rationing

BOISE, Idaho - Idaho hospitals are rationing care because of the strain from the pandemic. Some groups are questioning the use of age as one of the …

The pandemic has emphasized the important work done by volunteers. (insta_photos/Adobe Stock)

Nominations Open for ID Volunteer Award

BOISE, Idaho -- Nominations are open for Idahoans who are making a difference in their communities through volunteering as part of the 2021 Andrus …

The average Idaho household has only about $2,500 in retirement savings. (Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock)

Financial Literacy Month: Time to Talk about Retirement Savings

BOISE, Idaho - April is Financial Literacy Month and one of the keys to good money habits is learning how to save. Unfortunately, many people aren't …

Continued education for older people helps keep their brains healthy, but also is a way to make new friends. (insta_photos/Adobe Stock)

For Older Idahoans, Online Classes Help Fight Social Isolation

BOISE, Idaho - A program designed as a source of continuing education for older Idahoans has a new function during the pandemic: combatting social …

Glenns Ferry was among communities awarded an AARP Challenge Grant last year. (Drmccreedy/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Program Aids Communities of All Sizes

BOISE, Idaho -- Applications are open for AARP's Community Challenge grant program. The program provides funds for projects that can be produced …

Idaho households have about $2,500 in retirement savings, on average. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Auto-Savings Program Could Help Idaho Small-Business Employees

BOISE, Idaho - Saving for retirement is a struggle for many Idaho workers right now. A bill in the Idaho Legislature is aimed at making the process …

More than 52 million people on Medicare are age 65 or older and the vast majority take one or more prescription drugs. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Shopping Isn't Over: One Week Left to Compare Medicare Drug Plans

BOISE, Idaho -- Idahoans may have shopped until they dropped over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but Medicare enrollees have one last thing to …

There are about 200,000 family caregivers in Idaho. (Khunatorn/Adobe Stock)

Feeling Overwhelmed? Resources for ID Caregivers Available

BOISE, Idaho - A new resource guide is out for folks feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities as family caregivers. AARP Idaho's guide can …

Idahoans without state identification still can vote in the Nov. 3 election if they register by Oct. 9. (soupstock/Adobe Stock)

Older Idahoans Urged to Prepare for Voting on Election Day

BOISE, Idaho - AARP is encouraging older Americans to get ready to vote this November. AARP Idaho has launched its "Protect Voters 50-plus" campaign …

Mozelle and Don Neville of Idaho Falls received the 2019 Andrus Award for Community Service for their work distributing goods in southern Idaho. (Sherwin Crooks/AARP Idaho)

ID Award Recognizing Volunteers Open for Nominations

BOISE, Idaho -- AARP is seeking Idahoans who have made a profound impact on their communities. Nominations for the 2020 Andrus Award for Community …

Last week, Gov. Brad Little extended Idaho's stay-at-home order through the end of April. (Phil White/Office of the Governor of Idaho)

ID Gov, AARP Hosting Live Q&As on COVID-19

BOISE, Idaho -- Gov. Brad Little and AARP Idaho are hosting town halls every Tuesday to give updates on the coronavirus. In the meetings, streamed …

Mutual aid groups are popping up across the country to help people who are isolated during the COVID-19 outbreak. (ulza/Adobe Stock)

AARP Website: A Resource Pool in Pandemic

BOISE, Idaho -- An online platform from AARP is connecting folks with groups that can give them aid while they're isolated at home during the …

Volunteers in Idaho are stepping up to feed those in need across the state. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

ID Food Pantries See Spike in Folks Needing Meals

BOISE, Idaho -- More Idahoans are seeking help getting meals as businesses close their doors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The …

In 2019, Kaniksu Land Trust was awarded a grant to build a more accessible hiking trail. (AARP Idaho)

Communities Seek AARP Grants for Small, but Important, Projects

BOISE, Idaho -- Even small projects can create big changes for communities. That's the idea behind AARP's Community Challenge grant program, which …

Legislative days give groups a chance to peek behind the curtain of the lawmaking process. (AARP Idaho)

AARP Idaho Legislative Day Chance to Demystify Lawmaking Process

BOISE, Idaho -- AARP Idaho is holding its day at the Capitol in early February. Along with advocating for members' interests, the organization for …

Pollution trapped during winter inversions can make air dangerous for sensitive groups, including children and older people. (Charles Knowles/Flickr)

Idahoans Can Fight Bad Air During Winter Inversions

BOISE, Idaho -- The winter inversion season is a reminder of the daily pollution seen in valley communities across the West. Inversions are weather …

AARP Idaho says don't share your credit card or bank account information with anyone who calls to solicit a charitable donation. (Aris Suwanmalee/Adobe Stock)

Holiday Season Help: Stay on High Alert for Fraud

BOISE, Idaho – The winter holidays are supposed to be a time of good cheer, but fraud watchers are warning people to stay vigilant so scammers …

About 700 older Idahoans have taken driver safety courses from AARP to freshen up their skills. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

ID Driver Safety Program for Seniors Seeking Volunteers

BLACKFOOT, Idaho — A program offering safety tips for older drivers is looking for volunteers in Idaho. The AARP Driver Safety Program is …

The diabetes drug Lantus increased in price from $2,907 a year in 2012 to $4,702 per year in 2017. (Gang/Adobe Stock)

Idahoans Left with Tough Choices as Prescription Drug Costs Soar

BOISE, Idaho – As prescription drug costs continue to rise, Idahoans are feeling the pain. The average annual cost of prescription drugs in …

The small Idaho community of Driggs was chosen to receive an AARP Community Challenge grant.(Idahomiller/Wikimedia Commons)

ID Community Projects Receive Grants from AARP

DRIGGS, Idaho – AARP has chosen four projects in Idaho to receive grant funding from this year's Community Challenge Grant program. The …

Nearly three-quarters of Americans over 50 worry about being able to afford prescription drugs for themselves and their families, according to an AARP survey. (Gang/Adobe Stock)

AARP: Hold Prescription Drug Industry Accountable for High Prices

BOISE, Idaho – The rising cost of prescription drugs also is increasing anxiety for the people who take them. That's why AARP has launched the …

The winner of the 2019 Andrus Award for Community Serivce will be announced in the fall and honored at a ceremony in Boise (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

AARP Idaho Seeks Nominees for Prestigious Volunteer Award

BOISE, Idaho – AARP Idaho is looking for outstanding volunteers who make a difference in their communities. The nomination process is opening …

A project in Caldwell was one of three in Idaho that was selected last year for a grant in the AARP Community Challenge. (Tamanoeconomico/Wikimedia Commons)

Livability Grant Program Accepting Ideas, Including "Smart City" Innovation

BOISE, Idaho — With the right ideas, Idaho communities could earn grants to make them more livable for people of all ages. The AARP Community …

Help with income-tax preparation from the AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide volunteers begins Friday in Idaho. (PrincessOfCamelot/Twenty20)

Free Tax Help Coming Back to Idaho

BOISE, Idaho - The AARP Foundation is back with free income-tax assistance for Idahoans and people across the country. Last year, the Tax-Aide …

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