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80% of Wyoming adults say that EMS should be considered an essential service, according to a 2024 AARP survey. (Kirill Gorlov/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Wyomingites support increased EMS funding

Some emergency medical services, or EMS, are consolidating or closing across Wyoming, while the need for services is increasing. In 2021, Wyoming EMS …

Wyomingites aged 70-79 had the highest voter turnout rates in every general election from 2008 to 2022, according to data from the Secretary of State. (Adobe Stock)

WY candidates address older voters in online videos

Data show older voters are an influential demographic in Wyoming elections and a new series of videos asks candidates questions specific to the group…

Participating in the arts may improve older adults' health, well-being and independence, according to the National Institute on Aging. (Adobe Stock)

WY grant supports creative aging through arts

Teaching artists can now apply for grant funding centered on programs for older Wyomingites. The Creative Aging Project Grant, from the Wyoming Arts …

Despite recent increases, Wyomingites pay some of the lowest property taxes in the country. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

WY governor to talk property tax shifts at 'TeleTown Hall'

Gov. Mark Gordon will address Wyomingites this week to detail new avenues for property tax relief. Following the pandemic, property values in …

Wyoming voters who participated in the presidential election of 2020 but not the general election in 2022 have likely been purged from the state's voter rolls and need to re-register with their county clerk before being allowed to vote in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

WY purged 86,000 voters, must re-register for presidential election

More than 86,000 Wyoming voters have been purged from voter rolls, thanks to a state law requiring county clerks to remove people who did not vote in …

Nearly half of older adults surveyed said they prefer to vote at their polling place, in-person.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Older Wyomingites could decide 2024 elections

People in Wyoming aged 50 and over had the highest voter turnout in the 2022 midterm elections compared with other age demographics, according to new …

Scams via telephone produced the largest median per-person loss, at $1,400. Bank transfers accounted for $901 million dollars lost in the first half of 2023. (Adobe Stock)

How to spot a scam this holiday season

With the holiday shopping season on the horizon, consumer advocates and federal agencies are warning the public to be on the lookout for tell-tale …

As of Aug. 15, 2023, the federal government lists 75 disasters in the U.S. and its territories, compared with 55 in the same period last year. (Adobe Stock)

Most Older Adults Lack Emergency Plan for Natural Disasters

Most older adults are not as prepared as they should be to respond quickly in the event of natural disasters which can strike with little notice…

Wyoming is one of 31 States where utilities can shut off electricity for nonpayment amid heat waves. (Adobe Stock)

Older Wyomingites Mobilize Over Utility Rate Increase

Wyoming's largest advocacy group for people age 50 and older is mobilizing its 80,000 members to let the state's Public Service Commission know what t…

An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people are expected to be dropped from Medicaid rolls in Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

Keeping Older Wyoming Residents from Losing Nursing Home Coverage

Congress has put an end to a pandemic-era policy prohibiting states from dropping Medicaid recipients from their rolls, and 15 million people in …

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 10 in Wyoming, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Wyoming Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Wyoming is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, whether by creating new public transportation and housing …

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. (Adobe Stock)

Ways to Avoid Scammers During Holiday Shopping Season

A new AARP Fraud Watch Network report is putting a spotlight on how criminals are targeting holiday shoppers this year in hopes of separating them fr…

Food insecurity among adults ages 65 and older living alone reached the highest rates in 20 years between 2020 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Millions of Older Adults Experience Food Insecurity

Some 35 million people in Wyoming and across the U.S. struggle to put food on the table, and older adults experiencing food insecurity face numerous …

Each year, AARP Wyoming honors volunteers age 50 or older for their community service, including helping repair and rebuild homes damaged in Hurricane Katrina. (Adobe Stock)

Andrus Award Seeks Nominations to Celebrate Community Volunteers

AARP Wyoming is accepting nominations for its 2022 Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors older Wyomingites who are sharing their …

According to the Federal Trade Commission, financial fraud totaled $5.9 billion in 2021, although experts like Stokes believe the real cost is much higher because many victims are too ashamed to come forward. (Adobe Stock)

Study Calls for Ending Financial-Fraud Victim Blaming

A new report suggested changing how we talk about victims of financial fraud could lead to a shift in how Wyoming and the nation respond to this growi…

On April 22, AARP Wyoming will hold paper-shredding events in Sheridan, Rock Springs and Cheyenne, where folks can bring their personal documents to be safely discarded. (Adobe Stock)

Breaking the Silence on Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is experienced by at least one in 10 people aged 60 and older who live at home, and AARP Wyoming is working to ensure people have the …

AARP Wyoming's Virtual Fitness Program is free, open to the public, and you don't have to be an AARP member to participate. (Adobe Stock)

Older Wyomingites Dance, Write to Keep Winter Blues at Bay

As winter's cold and dark days settle in, AARP Wyoming has launched a series of fitness, writing and other creative classes to help people connect …

As shoppers head online to shop, scammers are targeting consumers with fake online ads and customer-service schemes. (Adobe Stock)

How to Protect Your Wallet from Holiday Scammers

As Wyomingites rush to complete their holiday shopping lists, criminals are seizing upon new online opportunities to separate consumers from their …

Americans pay at least three times more than residents of other developed nations for the exact same prescription drugs. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Members Call on Congress to Rein In Big Pharma

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill late Friday, AARP is calling on lawmakers to pass …

Social Security lifts more than one million U.S. children out of poverty, along with some 26,000 elderly residents in Wyoming. (Adobe Stock)

Economists Challenge Warnings of Social Security's Demise

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Social Security, the program credited with lifting 15 million older residents in Wyoming and across the U.S. out of poverty…

Social Security reduces your payment if you start collecting benefits before your full retirement age, currently 66 and 2 months, and is gradually rising to 67 for people born in 1960 or later. (Adobe Stock)

Money Milestones Series Aims to Beef Up Wyomingites’ Financial Skills

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- AARP Wyoming is gearing up for a series of Webinars and Telephone Town Halls to help residents of all ages get their financial …

Nearly one in three adults say they or someone they know has been asked to purchase a gift card as payment in scams, a common method employed by criminals to steal money. (BFIShadow/Flickr)

Scammers Target Seniors by Posing as Clergy

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- AARP's Fraud Watch Network is warning Wyoming residents about a new take on an age-old scam targeting older Americans across the …

AARP's most recent survey found that 90% of adults age 65 and older want to stay in their<br />homes and communities as they age. (A Place for Mom)

Senior Home-Care Cuts Could Expand State Budget Shortfalls

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- When Wyoming lawmakers reconvene in early March, advocates for people age fifty and older are hoping to convince them to preserve a …

A 2011 AARP survey shows 90% of adults age 65 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. (Marzena P/Pixabay)

Weighing the Costs of Cutting Home-Care Services

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- As Wyoming lawmakers wrestle with a staggering $750 million budget deficit, the state's largest advocacy organization for people …

In 2016, 81% of registered voters in Wyoming age 70-79 voted. In that same time period, just 34% percent of voters between the age of 18 and 24 cast ballots. (Erik Hersman/Flickr)

AARP to Mobilize Older Voters Ahead of Upcoming Elections

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- On Monday, the nation's largest advocacy group for people age 50 and over launched a new voter mobilization campaign. AARP wants to …

A Wyoming law passed in 2019 requires all air-ambulance insurance or membership companies to be certified with the state, to ensure that companies are legitimate and have enough money to pay claims.(Adamwaa/Wikimedia Commons)

Air Ambulance Services Covered by Medicare, Available Across Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Wyoming officials have received a lot of phone calls from consumers across the state who are confused about the availability and …

Wyoming's Consumer Protection Unit is actively monitoring unlawful attempts to exploit the COVID-19 public health emergency, including unfair price increases for essential goods and false marketing of coronavirus cures. (Pixabay)

Officials Warn Wyoming Residents to Beware of Coronavirus Scams

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Criminals are finding new ways to separate Wyoming residents from their money, and are using federal coronavirus stimulus checks as …

Census numbers are used to allocate political representation and to determine how many federal tax dollars are sent back to states for education and health programs, transportation, infrastructure and more. (US Census Bureau)

Tips Offered to Foil Criminals Posing as Census Workers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Impostor scams continue to target older Americans, and with the upcoming 2020 census, a large number of Wyoming residents could be …

Wyoming's retired firefighters, teachers and other public sector workers have lost an estimated 21% of their spending power since the last pension inflation adjustment in 2008. (Pixabay)

Retired Teachers, Police, Other Public Workers Could See Pension Bump

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The cost of health care, groceries and housing has increased dramatically since 2008, the last time Wyoming's retired public …

In 2015, Medicare beneficiaries spent $27 billion in out-of-pocket drug costs. (Needpix)

Wyoming Lawmakers Could Tackle Lower Rx Prices

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - A state and national campaign led by AARP to rein in rising prescription drug prices is making headway, and Wyoming lawmakers say …

The 12% reduction in Wyoming state pension checks due to rising healthcare costs equals about four tanks of gas and a half-month's worth of groceries. (Daniel Case/Wikimedia Commons)

WY Retirees Face Steep Health Insurance Increases

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – On December 1, retired public employees in Wyoming saw a 12% increase in the cost of their health coverage, which is taken …

In 2019, the state Legislature increased funding for Wyoming Senior Centers by $225,000. (Knox County Gov/Flickr)

Wyoming Family Caregivers Provide $980 Million in Unpaid Care

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Some 74,000 unpaid caregivers in Wyoming provide an estimated 62 million hours of care each year, valued at $980 million…

AARP Wyoming's Movies for Grownups series, which seeks to fight social isolation in people age 50 and older, kicks off Oct. 3 with

Addressing Costs of Social Isolation in Older Americans

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – In the build-up to National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28, the AARP Foundation is encouraging all Americans to make a point to …

Residents in a Casper neighborhood make a race out of mowing each other's lawns in the summer, and removing snow in winter. (Pixabay)

Casper Neighborhood a Finalist for Kindest Place in U.S.

CASPER, Wyo. – The Big Tree neighborhood on South Chestnut Street in Casper is one of 50 finalists in a national crowdsourced search for the …

In the 1980s, just 1-in-3 retired households were financially insecure, compared with nearly 1-in-2 today. (401kcalculator/Flickr)

Retirement Security Out of Reach for Many in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Fewer employers offering pensions, a lack of retirement savings, higher health costs and longer life expectancy is putting the …

There are 66,000 unpaid caregivers in Wyoming providing care to a loved one or neighbor at no cost. This translates into 62 million hours of care and $817 million per year. (Myfuture/Flickr)

Listening Sessions Scheduled for Improving Department of Health Services

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Tapping years of customer service experience, the Wyoming Department of Health's new director Mike Ceballos is going directly …

In 2016, an estimated 4,429 grandparents in Wyoming had the primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren. (Matti/Wikimedia Commons)

Wyoming Foster Care System Makes Progress

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Foster care is improving in Wyoming and across the nation, according to a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report. More kids …

AARP's 38 million members across the country are taking on the drug companies over high drug costs with TV, digital and radio advertising, grassroots action, social media and events. (USAF)

‘Stop Rx Greed’ Campaign Targets High Prescription Prices

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – AARP has launched a federal and state level campaign to stop drug companies from price gouging. Sam Shumway, state director …

Wyoming currently spends $138 million per year for long-term care costs, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. (Pixabay)

AARP Makes Case for Investments to Save Long-Term Care Costs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — As Wyoming lawmakers work to create a state budget with smaller revenues from oil and gas production, advocates for people 50 …

The Wyoming Home Services Program had a waiting list this year of nearly 100 residents who were not able to receive in-home care because of budget cuts and a lack of trained staff. (MyFuture/Flickr)

Report: Home Services Could Mitigate Taxpayer Burden

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A report released by AARP shows that as Wyoming's aging population continues to rise, the state's budget could benefit from …

Experts predict premiums will climb for older patients in states that introduce non-ACA-compliant plans. (AJ Kane/NACHC)

Experts: New ACA Waivers Could Mean Higher Premiums for People 50-64

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Some health experts are warning that insurance rates could rise significantly for people in the individual market who are …

The 2018 Wyoming Conference on Aging will outline strategies, including exercise, for managing chronic health conditions. (USAF)

Experts Gather in Laramie to Address Wyoming's Aging Population

LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Conference on Aging, a three-day event set to kick off Oct. 2 in Laramie, aims to be a one stop shop for the latest …

Research suggests that workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement if it happens through automatic deductions at work. (Pixabay)

Plan to Expand Access to Retirement Plans Forges Ahead

CASPER, Wyo. – Wyoming is moving forward with efforts to make sure all workers have access to a retirement plan through their jobs. State Sen…

AARP Wyoming is helping connect consumers struggling with health, auto, homeowners and life insurance issues with the Wyoming Department of Insurance. (Pixabay)

AARP Teams with State Agency to Inform Consumers, Fight Fraud

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – As people across Wyoming grapple with the latest surge of robocalls about Medicare and potential changes to the Affordable …

The city of Jackson is working on becoming an

New Online Tool Measures Community Livability

CASPER, Wyo. – A new online tool launched by AARP allows anyone to see how their community stacks up against others in Wyoming and across the …

Between 2010 and 2014, 24 pedestrians and six cyclists died as a result of accidents with cars and trucks. (AJEL/Pixabay)

State Task Force Delivers Blueprint for Creating More Walkable Cities

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A group appointed by Gov. Matt Mead to find ways to make Wyoming towns safer for pedestrians and cyclists released its report …

SNAP benefits, sometimes called food stamps, help millions of low-income Americans put food on the table each month. (David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons)

Farm Bill Debate in Congress Could Put Food Stamps at Risk

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Congress is expected to begin work soon on the $140 billion farm bill, but there are concerns that some conservatives are …

While older Americans may lead more solitary lives, researchers have found that loneliness is highest among teenagers and young adults. (Pixabay)

Survey: Loneliness a Top Concern Around Holidays

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Many people associate the holidays with warm and positive feelings, but for others, it can be a lonely and difficult time…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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WY: Senior Issues