Wyoming - AARP Bulletin Today

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AARP Wyoming News

September 2008

Family-style living— Wyoming’s efforts to transform elder care take a step forward this month with two events in Sheridan, the future site of the state’s first Green House. Such residences offer a homelike alternative to nursing home care for eight to 12 people. On Sept. 23 community leaders from across the state will meet with geriatrician Bill Thomas, M.D., to learn about the Green House concept and to see plans for the one to be built in Sheridan. Thomas will also participate in a Sept. 24 public forum on health and long-term care. AARP Wyoming, which helped change state laws to allow for Green Houses, is cosponsoring the events. For details, call 1-866-663-3290 toll free or go to www.sheridangreenhouse.org.

AARP Honors Wyoming Lawmaker

AARP honored U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R, Wyoming with an AARP Legislative Achievement Award for his leadership in keeping older Americans safe from falls. “We are commending you for your outstanding leadership on the Safety of Seniors Act because we believe enactment of this legislation offers a promising strategy for effective intervention against the increasing incidence of falls among older Americans,” AARP CEO Bill Novelli wrote to Sen. Enzi. “Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among the elderly, and that these fatalities have increased by nearly 36 percent. Your leadership will go a long way towards improving the health security of millions of Americans.”  Sen. Enzi, a two-term senator and ranking Republican on the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, was presented an engraved plaque honoring legislative achievement in August. The new awards were created as part of AARP’s 50th anniversary celebration. Twenty lawmakers received Legislative Excellence, Legislative Achievement and Legislative Leadership awards.

July/August 2008

Have your say – In a historic first, all of Wyoming’s congressional seats—both senatorial slots and the state’s only seat in the House of Representatives—will be on the ballot in the Nov. 4 election.  AARP is sponsoring congressional debates that will air live on Wyoming PBS and Wyoming Public Radio before the Aug. 19 primaries and a second round of debates in the fall. Check local listings for dates and times, or go to www.wyoming pbs.org. In addition, AARP Wyoming is publishing a voters’ guide and will feature Q&As with all of the congressional candidates in the August and October issues of the Wyoming Sage. To get the guide or Q&As, go to www.aarp.org/wy or call 1-866-663-3290 toll free.

June 2008

Spell-fest – AARP the Magazine’s National Spelling Bee will draw competitive orthographers age 50-plus from across the country to Cheyenne on June 14. The winner of the annual contest will receive a cash prize of $500 and a trip to New York to appear on national television. Second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes. 
n Started 12 years ago by AARP members in Cheyenne, the spelling bee is still run mainly by volunteers. To register, go to www.aarp .org/spellingbee or call 1-866-663-3290 toll free by June 11. The $25 entry fee includes lunch. To join an online community of spellers, go to www.aarp.org/community/groups/spellingbee.

January/February 2008

Rising costs – With the legislature set to begin a 20-day budget session Feb. 11, AARP Wyoming is urging lawmakers to extend funding to help state government retirees pay for health insurance premiums.The legislature approved a one-year relief measure in 2007, after a study showed the increasing cost of state retirees’ health insurance premiums exceeded the average state pension. The appropriation, which provides benefits averaging $173 a month for about 1,500 retirees, will expire June 30. "That funding really helped many of our members, and we would like to see the effort continued," says Joanne Bowlby, AARP associate state director for communications.

November 2007

For winter warmth – More Wyoming residents than ever are eligible for help with paying their heating bills this winter because lawmakers increased the income limits for the state’s energy assistance program by about 10 percent this year. Under the new guidelines, individuals with monthly income up to $1,829 and couples with up to $2,453 qualify for bill-paying assistance and may also be able to get help with weatherizing their homes For help, call the state energy assistance office in Casper at 307-472-4221 or 1-800-246-4221. Applications, which are also available at senior centers and utility companies, may be submitted until Feb. 28, 2008.