AARP 2014 Annual Report Download - page 15

2014 AARP ANNUAL REPORT 13
PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS
No matter where you’re headed in life, Medicare will be part of it –
helping protect your health and wallet. But Medicare is complex.
Through community events, frequent arti-
cles and a new online Medicare Q&A tool,
AARP helped people get the most out of their
coverage by understanding Medicare better.
In California, for example, Alfredo and
Herlinda Garcia guided AARP’s outreach in
two Hispanic/Latino communities near Los
Angeles. At AARP’s information booth during
the weekly Downey Farmer’s Market, Alfredo
fielded questions while his wife often stayed
home to care for her 87-year-old mother.
Two health-related events were partic-
ularly popular. Alfredo helped lead “Meet
Medicare,” which featured a spin wheel with
commonly asked questions about Medicare;
each participant received a basket of fresh
berries. At a November event on caregiving,
Herlinda spoke from the heart about the
rewards and challenges of caring for a loved
one. Her tips about resources, along with
complimentary cupcakes from a local baker,
left a sweet impression.
Photo by Maddie McGarvey
SOCIAL IMPACT: HEALTHY LIVING
Other ways AARP promoted health and wellness in 2014 included::
>For the third year in a row, AARP prevented harmful benefit cuts in Medicare.
>The Innovation@50+TM initiative continued to spark entrepreneurial activity around
meeting the current and future health needs of people age 50 and up.
>A new “Staying Sharp” membership provided scientifically based information,
tools and resources on brain health.
Mary Wiseman, a 52-year-old judge
from Ohio, told the AARP Bulletin that
hopping on her bike after a long day at
work “gives me a sense of freedom.”
Herlinda and
Alfredo Garcia
Photo by Mary
Beth Dixon