Valentine's Day is this Friday and AARP Arizona wants to caution Arizonans to be careful with who they are talking to online.

The National Retail Federation estimated more than 50% of consumers will spend more than $27 billion on the holiday.

Dawn Alexander, communications analyst for AARP Arizona, does not want people to fall victim to "romance scams." She explained the scams start online through social media or dating apps. Scammers often target people who have gone through some sort of hardship and are in search of companionship.

"The problem is that once you engage with them, then it is going to move really, really fast," Alexander pointed out. "The red flags are you never want to give money to people, they're going to tell you that they're in the states and that they need help, they're going to tell you how much they want to be with you and how much they love you. They won't stop until you're able to give them money."

Alexander acknowledged many times, people feel embarrassed and shameful once they realize they have fallen victim to a romance scam. But she added it is important to report incidents to local authorities, because if it goes unreported, law enforcement officers and policymakers will not know it is a problem. She advised if you're in doubt about a situation give the free AARP Fraud Watch Network a call at 877-908-3360.

Alexander considers technology a blessing and a curse. She noted while the internet, social media and now artificial intelligence have all facilitated connecting with others, there are bad actors out there taking advantage of it.

"These scammers are reaching out to people and using it to a disadvantage on people and really taking advantage of their weaknesses," Alexander emphasized.

It is also tax season, and people have started to receive fraudulent text messages claiming they are eligible for a $1,400 stimulus check. Alexander said the text messages normally include a link that looks like the IRS website but clicking on it could put your personal and financial information at risk.

"You know your instinct is curiosity," Alexander observed. "Curiosity killed the cat, you want to know what that said, but if you don't know who that is, don't open those. Because if you click on that link you're going to become very susceptible to a scam."

Oregon's population, along with the rest of the country, is getting older. Within 10 years there will be more Oregonians age 65 and older than children younger than 18.

New legislation would establish a task force to create a blueprint for the state to prepare for the massive change.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said having an older population will affect every sector of the state including housing, transportation and health. She emphasized the task force would bring representatives from many of these sectors to the table.

"It's not just the needs that we're going to be responding to," Shrestha pointed out. "People talk about aging as a net deficit in some ways. Aging also can be very positive."

Shrestha noted older adults benefit the state by contributing billions of dollars in unpaid care to other adults and children, as well as volunteer hours to schools and nonprofits. Public testimony for the bill has been overwhelmingly positive.

Rep. Mari Watanabe, D-Bethany, a sponsor of the bill, said the shifting age demographics will also affect the state's workforce and older people who want or need to keep working will be able to help fill in gaps.

"They bring skills, they bring knowledge, they bring their acumen that they've learned all through the years," Watanabe outlined. "To keep them in the workplace would be great for Oregon."

Shrestha stressed the need for financial support as more families care for older adults at home. She also highlighted the rising homelessness among older adults and urges state investment in housing for aging in place. Despite all the work needing to be done, Shrestha is optimistic about the plan the legislation lays out.

"It's proactive," Shrestha acknowledged. "It's not waiting 'til there is an emergency. We still have a nice timeline to work towards it. And everybody should be invested because it's about our future."

The Montana governor's proposed budget includes cuts to funding for senior long-term care. Those in the already-struggling industry said as more Montanans enter their 80s, a wider community will feel the effects.

Within the last three years, 11 of Montana's nursing homes closed in a single 12-month period. It adds pressure to those providers left, like Big Sky Senior Services in Billings, which provides payee services for over 100 people and offers in-home care for seniors on a sliding-fee scale.

Tyler Amundsen, executive director of Big Sky Senior Services, said keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible is the goal but there is usually a point where outside care becomes necessary.

"Then they're in crisis because we don't have enough places to send them," Amundsen observed. "Or the places that are available to send them aren't getting funded well. And so the quality of care is going down."

Amundsen added reimbursement rates are not keeping up with the rise of inflation. Gov. Greg Gianforte has proposed $50 million in cuts over the next biennium to senior and long-term care services via the Department of Public Health and Human Services, amounting to nearly 6%.

As there are fewer services and increased need, more people will likely become caregivers for family, which Amundsen emphasized will affect the workforce. He is predicting a trend called the "sandwich generation."

"They'll be taking care of their parents as well as their kids at the same time," Amundsen explained. "It just puts more strain on our communities to be able to do all the things we hope we can do."

He advises people and groups in the state pay attention to this rising issue now, before it worsens. Nearly 100,000 Montanans will enter their 80s this decade, nearly 70% more than did between 2010 and 2019.


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As Michigan's senior population steadily increases, the need for communities that prioritize their well-being becomes more critical.

With nearly 2 million people in the state aged 65 and older, it's vital to ensure they have the resources and support systems in place to thrive in their later years.

In response, AARP Michigan, along with the World Health Organization, has created the Network of Age-Friendly Communities - a five-year program that develops and renews action plans to support aging populations, using what they call the eight domains of livability.

Sadie Shattuck, communications analyst for AARP Michigan, explained what they are.

"Those eight domains," said Shattuck, "are outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, civic participation and employment - communication and information, respect and social inclusion, social participation, health services and community support, and housing."

AARP stresses that safety is also at the top of the priority list for senior living.

Their communities should create a protective environment where they feel secure, both in their homes and out in the community.

AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities provides expert resources to help local and state leaders improve housing, transportation, and public spaces for aging in place.

Michigan is one of 11 states in the network, with a dozen participating communities, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Shattuck emphasized that the goal is to create livable communities for all ages, not just seniors.

"I've talked to committee members from communities in Michigan that are part of the Network," said Shattuck, "that range from college students all the way up to someone who's in their 90s and is retired."

Statistics show that the majority of seniors live independently in private homes or apartments.