Sabes Que con AARP

According to Feeding Texas, the Lone Star State is the 5th highest state for senior food insecurity. What does that mean? Well, that means that 11% of Texas seniors run the risk of going hungry.

Local food banks are doing their part to help feed these Texans in need. So are organizations like Lucille's 1913 Foundation in Houston, led by Chef Christopher Williams of Lucille's Restaurant. Hear his story in this latest edition of the Prepare to Care Podcast.

Un análisis reciente del Instituto de Política Pública de AARP revela que en 2019, alrededor de 1 de cada 5 latinos entre las edades de 50 a 64 años carecía de seguro médico. Si bien la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (Obamacare) implementada hace 11 años mejoró las disparidades raciales y étnicas asociadas con la capacidad de compra del seguro médico, esa tasa es casi tres veces mayor a la de los blancos no hispanos. Y como sabemos, la pandemia y la pérdida de empleos solo ha empeorado la situación para millones de personas en nuestro país, particularmente en las comunidades de color.

Afortunadamente les traemos buenas noticias hoy sobre los seguros de salud. Karina Hertz, directora de estrategias integradas de comunicación en la oficina nacional de AARP en Washington nos dice más.

A 2020 report revealed that half of the Asian American caregivers say the person they care for lives with them in their home, more common than non-Hispanic whites. Also, more Asian caregivers find their role highly emotionally stressful, more so than either African American or Hispanic caregivers. The anxiety level Asian caregivers feel has been magnified by the recent Asian-targeted attacks.

Here to talk about these caregivers' issues today and talk about AARP resources is Daphne Kwok, VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with AARP. Also joining us is AARP Executive Council member Beverly Gor.

En el mes de abril celebramos el Mes de la Apreciación de Voluntarios en donde reconocemos los valiosos servicios que ofrecen los voluntarios a través de toda la nación sin recompensa alguna otra que no sea la satisfacción de servir a otros. AARP Texas tiene la dicha de contar con mas de 300 voluntarios.

En esta edición de nuestro podcast Sabes Que con AARP, tenemos el placer de entrevistar al líder de voluntarios John Vasquez, presidente del Consejo Ejecutivo de AARP en Texas.

It’s no secret that the pandemic has added to the stress that family caregivers face daily. As family caregivers, we must take care of ourselves to be able to take care of others. But how do you care for yourself and do a good job of caring for your loved one?

Our guest this week is going to offer us some free tips that may help. Melissa Smith-Wilkinson is with Caregiver Wellness Retreat.

Join founder of Caregiver Wellness Retreat, a nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of caregivers of Alzheimer’s and other dementias for a Caregiver series that will focus on how you can improve your quality of life, perseverance and ability to hand stressful situations.

Melissa Smith-Wilkinson, founder and executive director, will be offering real-time mindfulness tools and techniques that are simple and easy to implement throughout a day. Her background of 30 years in the wellness industry combined with the understanding of the needs and challenges that caregivers face, give her a unique perspective to offer these teachings.

Join founder of Caregiver Wellness Retreat, a nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of caregivers of Alzheimer’s and other dementias for a Caregiver series that will focus on how you can improve your quality of life, perseverance and ability to hand stressful situations. Melissa Smith-Wilkinson, founder and executive director, will be offering real-time mindfulness tools and techniques that are simple and easy to implement throughout a day. Her background of 30 years in the wellness industry combined with the understanding of the needs and challenges that caregivers face, give her a unique perspective to offer these teachings.

En los pasados meses, la nación entera ha visto con alarma las fotos y videos de filas interminables de automóviles con familias que van en busca de alimentos donados para poder subsistir. Este es un problema que ha ido creciendo en los últimos años y se ha agravado con motivo de la pandemia y el creciente número de personas desempleadas.

Los bancos de alimentos -- como el North Texas Food Bank -- trabajan arduamente para aliviar esta situación.

Por otro lado, AARP, la principal organización defensora de los intereses de las personas mayores de 50 años de edad, está también trabajando fuertemente para aliviar la situación, no solamente en el ámbito nacional sino localmente en la Legislatura de Texas.

Anna Kurian, directora senior de mercadeo y comunicaciones del Banco de Alimentos del Norte de Texas – North Texas Food Bank -- y a Joe Sanchez, director estatal asociado de AARP Texas se unieron al presentador del podcast de Sabes Que, Rafael Ayuso, para hablar sobre el problema del hambre y sus posibles soluciones.

Para escuchar más podcasts de Sabes Que con AARP, visite aarp.org/sabesque.

For nearly a year, the entire nation has watched with alarm the photos and videos of endless lines of cars with families searching for donated food to make ends meet. This is a problem that has been growing in recent years and has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the growing number of unemployed people.

Food banks and other community organizations are working to alleviate this situation. AARP, the leading advocacy organization for people age 50 and older, is also working hard to alleviate the situation, not only at the national level but also locally in the Texas Legislature.

Jamie Olson, MPA, Director of Government affairs with Feeding Texas and Joe Sanchez, director AARP Texas Associate State joined Prepare to Care Podcast host Charlene Hunter James to talk about the hunger problem and possible solutions.

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 95% of COVID-19 deaths have been among people 50 and older. While some caregivers and the loved ones they care for choose to get vaccinated, finding the vaccine has not been easy. In addition to access to the vaccine, people in communities of color face other barriers like distrust in the vaccine.

AARP Regional Vice President Rawle Andrews Jr. and Dr. Antonio Webb from San Antonio joined AARP Texas Prepare to Care podcast host Charlene Hunter James to talk about the challenges people of color face regarding the vaccine.