ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

If you were to ask ten people their thoughts on their commute to work, you'd probably get 10 negative viewpoints. When is the last time you remember hearing someone boast about loving the trip to their job or into town to run errands? Probably never, and that's the point. Our transportation system is a mess and as a result, we waste tons of time and energy needlessly sitting in traffic. I bring this up now because this year Congress will be writing the six year transportation bill. This is a great opportunity to tell your elected officials what you think about the transportation where you live. If you're looking for a way to make your voice heard, you may want to check out this site. You can post stories about how terrible your commute is and even share pictures and videos. The site will also help you get in touch with your Members of Congress. You can even follow this group on Twitter @mycommutesucks.

While we're on the topic of transportation, roads aren't only a problem for drivers. Most of our streets have only been designed to get as many cars through them as quickly as possible (though the often fail at that as well). Very few streets take pedestrians and bicycle riders into account. In fact, a new AARP Public Policy Institute study shows that two in five Americans aged 50+ said their sidewalks were inadequate. Moreover half of these people said they couldn't cross the major streets near them safely, preventing them from walking, biking, or even catching a bus. This trend needs to change and we need to begin making roads that are accommodating to all. Such designs are called complete streets and they're something that Congress should include in the next transportation bill. So let us know, how is the commute where you live?

Since the cost of health care has gone through the roof, anything that can be done to find some savings in this area should be considered. So naturally when Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) sponsored the STOP Act to prevent Medicare Fraud, AARP loved the idea and endorsed the bill. With billions of dollars being lost to Medicare fraud, this bill is a great step in improving the quality of Medicare while also curbing unnecessary spending. Improving Medicare is extremely important, but it is just one of AARP's many health reform priorities.

He's the familiar figure behind the Mary Tyler Moore Show's Lou Grant, and has appeared in hundreds of other television shows and movies. AARP's My Generation sat down with Asner to talk about his long career. "I'm still a child," he says.

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A new documentary series co-produced by Maria Shriver premiered last night on HBO. The series, called The Alzheimer's Project is drawn in part by the California first-lady's personal experience of coping with her father's Alzheimer's. The Los Angeles Times gives us a preview.

"I thought of it as short stories about forgetting," said HBO Documentary Films President Sheila Nevins, executive producer of the series. "To me that show was really a lesson in caring if nothing else and oddly not as depressing as everyone expected it to be. The love of some of these people is quite extraordinary."

Nevins also involved First Lady of California Maria Shriver as executive producer. Shriver's 93-year-old father, Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps and 1972 Democratic vice presidential nominee, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2003.

More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. That figure accounts for one in every eight people over age 65, according to the Alzheimer's Assn. And those numbers are expected to balloon as the baby boomers reach retirement age.

Did anyone see the premier last night? What did you think?

The thought of changing careers is always scary. The feelings of uncertainty only increase when that change comes after age 50. However, a new study shows there may not be anything to fear. In fact, if you're willing to accept a pay cut, a job switch could pay great dividends in happiness. The study shows that amongst those who switched careers after age 50, 91% of people enjoyed their new jobs. Researchers attribute the increased happiness to a reduction of stress and greater workplace flexibility. A note of caution: the people surveyed did experience a drop in pay and many lost benefits or pensions. So finding a new job could improve your quality of life, just be sure you can afford to make the change.

For anyone who has spent time in a hospital, the hospital gown is a familiar sight. In fact, the same-old gown design has been in use, with very little alteration, since the 20's. The trouble is, it seems like no one actually like the thing. They're tough to close, awkward, and bland. Worse still, anyone who has worn one knows that the gowns don't leave much to the imagination. The good news is that people are trying to come up with new designs. So far it has proven difficult to create a new gown that would prove both more visually appealing and easier to wear but this hasn't stopped design efforts.