A Nevada bill would make changes to adult guardianship by prioritizing less restrictive approaches.

Sen. Melanie Scheible, D-Las Vegas, the bill's sponsor, explained Nevada law promotes "supportive decision-making," a contract between a protected person and a supportive partner. She said the approach allows people to keep a level of independence and power when making important legal, financial and health care decisions.

Scheible pointed out the new measure would require Nevada courts to first explore the option or other less restrictive alternatives before a guardian is appointed.

"It requires the judge to put on the record, why, if they are going to appoint a guardian, they are doing that in lieu of a supportive decision-making agreement," Scheible outlined. "What about this person's capabilities makes them unfit to be in a supportive decision-making arrangement?"

The legislation would also require the review of guardianships being transferred from outside the state into Nevada. Backers of the bill said state standards are not all the same and want to ensure guardianship is truly warranted. The bill was heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week and has not faced opposition so far.

Jonathan Norman, advocacy, outreach and policy director for the Nevada Coalition of Legal Services Providers, said he supports the measure because he wants people in the state to retain as many rights as they can when receiving medical care.

"SB 346 will lead to fewer unnecessary guardianships," Norman contended. "Many adults and seniors with disabilities find themselves facing the rest of their lives in a court-ordered guardianship, not because they need it but because less restrictive alternatives were not fully explored."

Ellen Marquez is the mother of Alysa Marquez, 22, who has Down syndrome. She said guardianship has been "the default" for too long. She believes while guardianship has its place, it can also strip people of their rights.

"If we all rely on guidance from trusted sources, why shouldn't individuals with disabilities and older adults have the same opportunity?" Marquez asked.


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Iowa has joined a growing network that provides comprehensive and social service resources to the state's unpaid family caregivers.

Nationwide, 48 million people provide caregiving assistance to loved ones who need help due to illness, injury, or other challenges.

Thanks to a recent expansion, Iowa is now one of twenty-five states served by the 211 Caregiver Support Program - which AARP Iowa State Director Michael Wagler said connects caregivers with a wide variety of help, even if the caller doesn't know exactly what they're looking for.

"It's really a no wrong door mentality," said Wagler. "And so they can get access and resources to on the ground care providers like area agencies on aging or hospital resources that they may not be aware of. Sometimes, it's a point of reference for online resources."

AARP and United Way Worldwide created the Caregiver Support Program to address the number one need for family caregivers - navigating the system to find relevant caregiving resources and local support.

Wagler added that the 211 program, which is a free 24/7 helpline, connects callers with local resources and nearby services for caregivers.

"Whether that be through AARP or other care providers," said Wagler. "On connecting to resources, to local support groups to a gateway into other resources throughout their communities. And that's the nice thing about the 211 program - it is both comprehensive and catered to where the caller is calling from."

Originally launched in 2021, the program now covers 25 states with plans for more growth.

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month and new research examined the connection between dementia and awareness about money management skills.

Some 17,000 South Dakotans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease, and another 17% of residents age 45 and older have what's known as subjective cognitive decline.

Ian McDonough, associate professor of psychology at Binghamton University in New York and the study's co-author, said people with dementia are unaware if they are making errors in handling their bank accounts and other financial tasks. For those without cognitive decline, awareness improved over time.

"When you're aware of those declines, you can adapt," McDonough pointed out. "You can ask for help, you can use calculators. If you're not aware, you might be going on your daily business, doing some mental arithmetic and then that's when those errors might be introduced."

McDonough noted it increases their vulnerability to fraud at a time when Americans, including older adults, are losing more money to scammers. He stressed preventive efforts by caregivers are important so people with dementia can avoid being taken advantage of and still have some autonomy over their finances.

If this type of conversation is needed between a person with dementia and a loved one, McDonough advised it is best to take a measured approach in adding safeguards instead of completely taking control of the person's finances right away. He added a person's relationship with the money they have earned is part of their identity, and making any moves requires preserving their sense of dignity.

"They're not gone (and) we shouldn't treat them like they don't live in society anymore," McDonough explained.

He noted diving in too fast could also be trouble for the relative taking charge if they are unfamiliar with things like investment portfolios. Added precautions could include signing up for extra alerts from a bank or imposing certain withdrawal limits. Next up for researchers is learning how e-banking complicates matters, with tasks like remembering complex login passwords.


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At least 10,000 people retire every day in the United States, with nearly half of them relying on Social Security as their sole source of income.

As lawmakers debate cuts to social service programs, AARP Nebraska has launched a campaign to draw attention to its importance.

AARP Nebraska's "90 days to 90 years" marks the Social Security administration's anniversary in August.

AARP Nebraska state director Todd Stubbendieck said in its 90 years, Social Security has never missed a payment to recipients - and a lot of Nebraskans are relying on that money.

"Forty-three percent of Nebraskans rely on Social Security for at least 50% of their family income, and 17% rely on Social Security for 90% of their income," said Stubbendieck. "So, this program, has direct impacts both on our state and at the individual level."

AARP Nebraska is encouraging Social Security recipients to add their names to an online Pledge for Action to support Social Security, which turns 90 years old on August 15.

Federal lawmakers are debating cuts to federal programs in the Trump administration's budget reconciliation bill that could include changes in Social Security benefits.

Stubbendieck said reductions to the service would be historic.

"I think one of the best things about Social Security is that it has always been a bipartisan issue," said Stubbendieck. "For 65 years, AARP has worked with every president and every Congress on Social Security, so we're confident it will continue to be a bipartisan, popular initiative."

Nearly 371,000 Nebraskans, or nearly one in five people, receive a total of more than $7.7 billion in Social Security benefits every year.