Advertise on podcast: AARP Washington State Podcast

Fraud and scams are preying on older Washingtonians and caregivers are often on the front lines of protecting their loved ones. In this Caring for Caregivers Conversation, our state director Marguerite Ro sits down with fraud researcher and educator Doug Shadel to share practical, real-world advice on how to spot scams, safeguard your family, and protect yourself if you become a target.   Whether you're caring for a parent, partner, or friend, this conversation offers valuable insights you can use right away.

Join us for a live telephone conversation with Governor Bob Ferguson and his staff on current flood events, the state of our economy, the cost of health care and health insurance and more. Hosted by AARP Washington Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul. Recorded December 15th, 2025

Medicare can be confusing—whether you're approaching retirement, supporting a loved one, or navigating Open Enrollment. In this Caring for Caregivers Conversation, our state director Marguerite Ro sits down with Tim Smolen, Program Manager for SHIBA, the volunteer-powered program from Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner that offers free, unbiased Medicare guidance to Washington residents.   What you'll learn: What Medicare is and how it works The best way & time to file for Medicare Why Open Enrollment matters Medicare or Medicare Advantage Common concerns and how to address them How SHIBA can help you make confident decisions

In the last Savvy Social Security online event in our 3-part series, our national AARP Social Security expert Jammie Lyell talks about the key factors that can impact your decisions - such as age, income and long-term goals. Learn smart strategies, find helpful resources and get the info you need for retirement. AARP Washington's Christina Clem hosts. #weearnedit

Navigating Social Security can be confusing—but it doesn't have to be. In this live event, Social Security expert Jammie Lyell and host Christina Clem help you make sense of your options and make confident decisions. Today's event is the second in our three-part Savvy Social Security series and focuses on "Family First: How Can Social Security Protect Your Loved Ones?".   How can your spouse maximize their payments? What are the eligibility criteria for family payments? How do survivor payments work? Discover practical strategies to ensure your loved ones are well-supported in this special session. #WeEarnedIt

Navigating Social Security can be confusing—but it doesn't have to be. In this live event, Social Security expert Jammie Lyell helps you make sense of your options and make confident decisions. This is the first in a three-part series and focuses on "Making Ends Meet: Work & Social Security".   Whether you're thinking about working while collecting benefits, planning for your family's financial security, or wondering when to claim your payments for maximum impact, Jammie breaks it down in a clear, practical way. Don't miss this chance to get expert insights and answers to your most important questions.   Learn more at aarp.org/socialsecurity

AARP Washington's new volunteer state president Ron Chew sits down with state director Marguerite Ro to talk about his vision for our work as he begins his term in 2025. Plus, he talks about his background and the experience he brings to AARP.

In this Caring For Caregivers Conversation, we sit down with Debra Whitman, author of "The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond". A globally recognized expert on aging, Debra shares her journey of turning 50 and asking the pivotal question: What does a good second half of life look like?   Debra and host Bruce Carlson explore the challenges and opportunities of midlife and beyond, with a focus on topics that matter most to caregivers and their loved ones: Navigating the unique challenges of family caregiving Maintaining brain health and mental well-being Planning finances for the future Finding purpose in the second half of life   The Seven Questions: - How Long Will I Live? - Will I Be Healthy? - Will I Lose My Memory? - How Long Will I Work? - Will I Have Enough Money? - Where Will I Live? - How Will I Die?   Join us for an inspiring and empowering conversation filled with practical advice, wisdom, and hope for anyone navigating caregiving or seeking answers to life's big questions in midlife and beyond.  Learn more about Debra's book: The Second Fifty https://aarp.org/secondfifty

In this live Teletown Hall, join our AARP Washington Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul for a deep dive into Ballot Initiative 2124. Hear why AARP, the Washington State Nurses Association and family caregivers are voting No on I-2124, learn about its impact on our state's long-term care insurance program, and get answers to any other questions you may have.

In this Caring For Caregivers Conversation, AARP Washington State Director Marguerite Ro talks with a group of our Spokane volunteers about the importance of advocating for caregivers and making our voices heard. Debby Ryan, Steve Corker and Aruna Bhuta discuss how they get involved in making their community better by voting and by volunteering. Learn more about caregiving in Washington at aarp.org/caregiverswa

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs answers members questions and brings us up to date on where, when and how to vote in the upcoming election, in a live teletown hall hosted by our AARP Washington Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul. Learn more about voting in WA at aarp.org/wavotes

In this Caring For Caregivers Conversation, our state director Marguerite Ro talks with Jennifer Lichorobiec of Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington about family caregiving in Spokane and rural Eastern Washington. Her agency covers five counties, spanning Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Whitman counties, and a diverse population. Jennifer describes the challenges in rural areas and how your Area Agency on Aging can help. Find more about caregiving in Washington at https://aarp.org/caregiverswa

People caring for loved ones often aren't aware of the help that's available from their local Area Agency on Aging. Cathy Knight is State Director at Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging and in this video, she walks you though the services you can use, often for free, and how to find them. Help includes adult day services, caregiver support, case management, elder abuse prevention, health maintenance and promotion, information and assistance, legal support, nutrition, senior centers and transportation. When you don't know where to turn, your local Area Agency on Aging can make a difference with services you didn't know existed. Learn more about caregiving in Washington at https://aarp.org/caregiverswa

Derek Kilmer is retiring as the 6th Congressional District Representative and five candidates are running in the August 5th primary to fill his seat. AARP Washington partnered with the Key Peninsula News and the Mustard Seed Project of Key Peninsula to bring the candidates together to talk with voters in person on Friday, June 28th at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn, WA.   Lisa Bryan, Executive Editor of Key Peninsula News, moderates the event. The candidates are Janis Clark (R), J. Graham Ralston (I), Emily Randall (D), Drew MacEwan (R), and Hilary Franz (D).   Learn more about voting in WA at our webpage: aarp.org/wavotes

In our new Caring For Caregivers Conversation, brain health expert Dr. Kate Zhong joins our state director Marguerite Ro to talk about advances in Alzheimers treatment and what you can do to protect your brain. Dr. Zhong is a geriatric psychiatrist and founder of the Brainnovation Initiative at UNLV. Learn about the Six Pillars of Brain Health in this interview and find more about caregiving in Washington at aarp.org/caregiverswa