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Beginning in January, new federal changes will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 annually for 56 million Americans with Medicare drug plans. (Adobe Stock)

Some older Kentuckians will save on prescription drugs next year

Around 60,000 Kentucky seniors will save more money on their medications in the New Year, according to a new AARP report. Under the federal …

A mural mock-up by artist Lacy Hale is seen in Jenkins, Ky. (Adobe Stock)

Eastern KY town plans mural to commemorate 2022 flood

A $20,000 grant from AARP Kentucky will help rebuild sidewalks in Jenkins damaged by the deadly 2022 flood that took the lives of 45 residents…

Nearly 60% of Kentucky Medicaid beneficiaries reported a lack of reliable and affordable transportation as a barrier to receiving health care services, according to data from the University of Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

New KY Medicaid changes expand medical transportation access

Kentucky has made some changes to expand access to free transportation for people who need help getting to medical, dental and mental health …

More than 80% of 65-to-69-year-olds are internet users, and two-thirds say they have broadband internet connections at home, according to data from The Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY to use $12M to boost internet access in underserved communities

Kentucky is set to spend $12 million over the next three years to boost internet access in communities across the state. The funding will go toward …

AARP polling data show nationwide, most 50+ voters said candidates' stances on Social Security and Medicare are very important factors affecting their vote in November. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians 50+ expected to head to polls for early voting on May 16

Early voting begins on Thursday for Kentucky's Primary Election and runs through May 18. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day…

Community Health Workers provide critical services for communities, including home visits, health education, and communicable disease control, according to WebMD. (Adobe Stock)

Thrive Roadshow aims to boost regional advocacy in KY communities

Experts are traveling across the Commonwealth to help community professionals better understand and advocate for policies that help Kentuckians needin…

Older adults make up a growing share of Kentucky's population, according to census data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY seniors push for family caregiving, equitable housing reforms

Kentuckians age 50 and older say increased support for family caregivers, affordable housing and lower prescription drug costs would help improve …

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers resources for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care through the VA Caregiver Support Program. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky Veterans' caregivers financially overburdened

Veterans Day happens once a year, but all year round, Kentuckians provide care for the veterans they love. According to data from AARP, they spend on …

Over the past few years, the number of retirees 55 and older nationwide have grown by 3.5 million, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Public Retirees advocate for payments to reflect cost of living

Many retired Kentuckians are facing great personal stress over their finances, according to Kentucky Public Retirees. Larry Totten, president of the …

Within the next decade, adults ages 65 and older are projected to outnumber children younger than 18, meaning the number of potential caregivers will not keep pace with the number of older adults at risk for needing long-term care, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Caregiving, rising cost of living top concerns for older Kentucky voters

Kentuckians will cast ballots for governor on Nov. 7, and many of the state's older voters said lack of support for caregiving, retirement savings…

Working caregivers face financial risks such as lost income, reduced career opportunities and subsequently lower Social Security and retirement benefits, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Family Caregiving In Kentucky Cost Billions

Unpaid caregiving by Kentucky's more than 600,000 caregivers is valued at more than $8 billion, according to new state data by AARP. AARP Kentucky …

Around 2.5 million children in the United States live in a household with their grandparents, according to the website Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Updates to KY Benefits Program 'KTAP' Aim to Help Family Caregivers

New changes to Kentucky's temporary benefits program - known as KTAP - increase the amount of money families receive to keep pace with inflation…

Regular brisk walking can help prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Small Towns Find Ways to Increase Walkability

Whitesburg residents have put the finishing touches on a walking trail aimed at increasing outdoor exercise among residents and linking local business…

Nearly nine in 10 Americans (88%) between 50 and 80 years of age said it is important to remain in their homes as they grow older, according to the latest University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. (Adobe Stock)

Older Kentuckians Want Aging-in-Place Support, Affordable Medication

Kentuckians age 50 and older across the state continue to struggle with high prescription drug costs, caregiver stress, and lack of long-term care …

Dr. Jamestta Ferguson, founder of Molo Community Development Corp., says grassroots organizations are working to address decades of disinvestment in Louisville's historically Black neighborhoods. (AARP KY)

Neighborhood Org Pushes for Economic Development in West Louisville

A pastor and community leader in Louisville is working to boost economic development and raise the quality of life on Louisville's West end. …

Forty percent of older Americans rely solely on Social Security for retirement income, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Squeezes Fixed-Income Kentuckians; Benefits Assistance Can Help

As inflation drives up the cost of living, Kentuckians on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable. More than 2,000 federal, state and local benefits …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13% of Americans live with mobility issues and may rely regularly on a wheelchair. (Adobe Stock)

Used Wheelchairs, Assistive Equipment Find New Life in Eastern KY Shop

In Hazard, Kentucky, volunteers are refurbishing used wheelchairs and other assistive equipment, and giving them to community members for free…

Americans voted in record numbers in the 2020 presidential election, casting more than 158 million ballots, according to a report from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Shares KY Voter Resources Ahead of May 17 Primary

Ahead of Kentucky's May 17 primary election, residents have several ways to educate themselves on voting changes, deadlines, how to find their …

Geriatric medicine physicians in the Commonwealth say they're seeing more terminally ill patients travel out of state to receive medical aid-in-dying services. (Adobe Stock)

KY Doctors Voice Support for Medical Aid-in-Dying Option

Doctors who specialize in geriatric medicine say they're seeing Kentuckians with advanced cancer and other serious illnesses travel out of state to en…

The McElhannons enjoyed Derby Day, one year before his medically assisted death. (McElhannon)

KY Sees Growing Support for Medical-Aid-In Dying Bill

Legislation in Kentucky would give a person who has a terminal illness but is of sound mind the ability to request a medication they could self-admini…

More than 74% of military veterans living in Kentucky are over age 50, according to data from AARP. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Tool Helps Veterans Navigate Benefits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A new tool from AARP is designed to help veterans navigate the complex system of figuring out which benefits they may qualify for…

AARP volunteers pose in front of the downtown Danville Community Challenge mural in 2018. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Community Grants Aim to Support Local KY Recovery

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The effects of the pandemic have depressed local government budgets at the same time communities need help bouncing back from a year …

Medical aid in dying requires two health-care providers to confirm the patient is mentally sound and has six months or less to live due to terminal illness, not because of age or disability. (Adobe Stock)

Medical-Aid-in-Dying Bill Puts Spotlight on Terminally Ill Kentuckians

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Medical-aid-in-dying laws that allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives peacefully using medication have passed in at …

More than 21 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

KY’s Vaccine Rollout with Kroger Ramps Up This Week

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Some residents will be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19 at regional drive-through locations beginning next week. Kroger is …

Socioeconomic disadvantages in jobs, housing and education have contributed to the higher COVID-19 death rate in Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Environmental, Economic Factors Drive KY Racial Health Disparities

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Black Americans are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as Caucasians, according to Centers for Disease Control and …

Kentucky is one of 12 states nationwide where there is an alarming increase in COVID cases, especially among nursing-home residents and staff. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Homes Brace for Second Wave of COVID-19 Cases

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Coronavirus cases in Kentucky and across the nation are spiking at alarming rates, and new data from AARP show nationwide nursing …

Six in ten seniors say they are embracing technology more since the pandemic began. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare Enrollment Could Affect Access to Telehealth

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The use of telehealth or video visits with doctors has surged among older Americans since the onset of the coronavirus, but many …

Kentucky leads the nation in cases of child abuse and neglect, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

KY Child Welfare System “Pushed to the Brink”

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The state's child welfare system is struggling to keep pace with unprecedented levels of mental distress among families, according …

Food insecurity among older adults and seniors has spiked during the COVID-19 crisis. (Adobe Stock)

As Pandemic Continues, Alarming Rise in Hunger Among KY Older Adults

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- The state's food banks say they're seeing an alarming number of adults approaching retirement age who need help putting food on the …

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many family members have been unable to visit loved ones in nursing homes.(AARP Kentucky)

AARP Urges Congress to Address COVID-19 Crisis in Nursing Homes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- AARP is urging Congress to take action to slow the spread of the coronavirus and help protect the lives of nursing home residents …

A new report finds that 5.3 million seniors struggled with food insecurity in 2018 and hunger advocates say COVID-19 could worsen the situation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More Older Adults in Kentucky Struggling with Hunger

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky has the highest rate in the nation of food insecurity among older adults, and that's likely to worsen amid the COVID-19 …

People age 65 and older make up 16% of Kentucky's population, according to Census data. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Tele-Town Hall Informs Older Kentuckians on COVID-19 Resources

FRANKFORRT, Ky. -- Kentuckians age 50 and older spoke to officials on Monday about the coronavirus and the state's response to the public health …

One in 10 Kentucky adults has been told he or she has pre-diabetes. (Adobe Stock)

Diabetes Prevention in the Era of COVID-19

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. -- It's estimated that 1 in 4 Kentuckians has undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Local prevention programs across the state are working to …

Common practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 are nearly impossible to enact among incarcerated populations. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Release of Older Prison Population Due to COVID-19

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- While most of the country practices frequent handwashing and social distancing, prisons and jails are housing people that can't …

Around 36 million Americans have some college credit but no degree, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot Program Helps KY Adults Complete GED, College Degree

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky is the first state to participate in a pilot program aimed at helping adult learners choose the best path toward obtaining …

There are more than 40,000 public school teachers in Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

KY Could Look to Neighbors for Lessons on Teacher Retirement

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- As state lawmakers continue to grapple with funding teacher pensions, some say lessons from neighboring West Virginia can offer …

Vietnam War eteran Carlen Pippin serves on the board of A Place to Sleep, a nonprofit organization in Shelbyville that provides beds for children. (Photo courtesy of Pippin)

KY Veteran Helping Other Vets Receives AARP Service Honor

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. – Every Wednesday, Vietnam War veteran Carlen Pippin can be found handing out food to fellow veterans in need. The 80-year-…

Prior to 2008, Kentucky's pension system was well funded. But the Great Recession, coupled with risky investments, left the state's pension plans massively underfunded, according to an analysis by the National Public Pension Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Pension Debate, Corporate Tax Breaks Remain Untouched

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Funding for Kentucky's pension system continues to be a fiercely debated topic, and some experts say putting an end to …

Gov. Matt Bevin and his challenger, Attorney General Andy Beshear, appear at this year's Fancy Farm Picnic. (Scott Wegenast)

Ahead of Gubernatorial Debate, Poll Finds Voters Burdened By High Drug Costs

OWENSBORO, Ky. – A new poll from AARP finds 83% of Kentucky voters age 50 and older think drug companies have influence over their governor and …

According to the National Archives, 58,148 American soldiers were killed and more than 300,000 wounded in the Vietnam War. (Adobe Stock)

Vietnam Vets Invited to Ft. Campbell for Belated 'Welcome Home'

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — Vietnam veterans will receive a proper "welcome home" this Thursday, in a special ceremony at Fort Campbell Army base…

The Eastern Kentucky city of Pikeville will begin construction to improve its downtown arts district this fall. (Ronnie Hylton/PikeTV)

Pikeville Gets Grant to Help Develop Arts District

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – The City of Pikeville has received a $30,000 grant from AARP to improve its plaza and outdoor arts venue. The funding will …

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 24.8 percent of Kentucky's population will be age 60 and older by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kentucky Ranks 49th in U.S. for Senior Mental Health

FRANKFORT, Ky. – More older Kentuckians are struggling with mental-health issues. The latest America's Health Rankings Report found Kentucky is …

Kentucky's older adults experience the highest rates in the nation for food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kentuckians in 50s Have Nation's Highest Food Insecurity Rate

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentuckians in their 50s have the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. According to a new report by the group …

More than 95,000 children in Kentucky are cared for by their grandparents or other relatives, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Ceremony Shines Spotlight on Kentucky’s Grandparent Caregivers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Grandparents raising their grandchildren are being celebrated in Louisville today at the 18th Annual AARP Kentucky …

In 2017, women and uninsured adults were the groups of people most likely to not take their medications as prescribed due to cost, according to the CDC. (@kayp/Twenty20)

Older Kentuckians Demand Lower Prescription Drug Prices

FRANKFORT, Ky. – AARP members in Kentucky are calling on lawmakers to stop price-gouging by pharmaceutical companies. New surveys from the …

Life expectancy is on the rise around the globe, but not in the United States. (geralt/Pixabay)

United States Falls Behind in Life Expectancy

FRANKFORT, Ky. – It's no longer a secret that Americans are dying at an alarming rate from a nationwide opioid crisis and increased suicide …

The RECLAIM Act would commit $1 billion to mine reclamation efforts. (U.S. Department of the Interior/Flickr)

Not Too Late for Congress to Help KY Coal Communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Congress has a chance to provide support to workers and communities in Kentucky suffering the impacts of the coal mining …

Headaches and severe body aches are hallmark signs of the flu. (Marg Johnson/Twenty20)

Kentucky Health Officials: Don’t Let Flu Ruin the Holidays

FRANKFORT, Ky. – With the holiday season here, health officials in Kentucky are urging people to take steps to help prevent spreading the flu…

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KY: Senior Issues