ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Earlier this week I wrote about how retirement can still be attainable in tough times. One major step in preparing to retire is finding cheaper living arrangements. Well here is a list of some of the cities with the most affordable housing in the country. Many are in upstate New York, but there are other cities throughout the country that offer some hope. Just make sure they aren't also on this list.

Yesterday President Obama announced his plans to address the mortgage crisis. It is the second phase of an all out effort to fix the troubled economy. This comes after Congress voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the President signed the bill into law. AARP and our 40 million members were declared a "key vote" in this decision. Hurray! Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President, released this statement:

"Unprecedented job loss, loss of savings and investments, and rising numbers of uninsured individuals has forced every American to take notice of this dire moment in history. The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a critical moment for Americans young and old and a vital jump start to our ailing economy.

AARP is pleased to see that Congress included a $250 economic recovery payment for older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities who are not eligible for the Make Work Pay credit."

Read the whole statement here, as well as a list of the most important pieces in the legislation that will benefit older Americans. In the meantime, keep an eye on AARP's government watch site to check out how your officials voted on the legislation.

AARP TV sat down with Harold J. Creel, Jr., whose old dog, Chester, inspired a book of poetry.

(This segment is from the AARP-produced show My Generation. Check out more here.)

In a move to combat wavering consumer confidence, JetBlue is offering refunds to any customers who have been laid off after purchasing tickets with the airline. The new program is designed to help give travelers the confidence to buy plane tickets without the fear of being unable to afford travel after losing a job.

JetBlue isn't the only company trying to reassure customers. Car manufacturer Hyundai is running a new promotion in which any customer who buys a car and is laid off can return the vehicle without paying any additional money or penalty. Companies hope that these efforts will bring consumers in and increase falling revenues in these challenging times. If only I could get the movie theater to return my ticket money after seeing a terrible flick.

If you listen to all the doomsday predictions and naysayers, then you probably don't think you have any shot at retiring. Not so says one Kansas State University professor. According to Fred Brock, people can still retire even during a steep recession. The key is not only trying to maximize earnings, but more importantly cutting costs. It's often unpopular to resort to scrimping and saving every last dime, but this is your retirement people! If it is truly important to you then you may have to make sacrifices. You might even need to move into a smaller home. If you owe money on your current home, renting it out could provide an additional source of income. In short, no pain no gain.

Over the weekend, USA Today gave AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen the chance to highlight some of this year's most interesting and important health news and research. In her Special Report on Health, she references research on preventing medication mix-ups, using space technology to improve balance and prevent falls in older Americans, the ability of exercise to slow the aging process, and even how internet games can help sharpen the mind. With so many depressing stories in the news, it's nice to see a year's worth of health news on ways to live better and longer.