April Issue of AARP Bulletin Examines 99 Great Ways to Make Your Home Safe and Healthy, a National Shortage of Geriatricians, How to Avoid Medicare Mistakes, April Scam Alerts, the Zika Virus and More

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Mar 28, 2016, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The April issue of AARP Bulletin provides a fresh look into making your home safer and healthier this spring with its cover story on "99 Great Ways to Make Your Home Safe and Healthy." Other stories include a look into a national shortage of geriatricians; tips on avoiding Medicare mistakes; April scam alerts just in time for tax season; a Q & A with Tom Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and noted epidemiologist on the Zika Virus and more; and AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins' on saving for your retirement.

Cover Story: Around 18,000 Americans die every year from accidental injuries in their homes. Almost 38,000 older adults annually are treated in emergency rooms just for tripping over carpets and rugs. From 5 hidden hazards such as radon, mold and carbon monoxide to 11 moves to make your home safe for grandkids to 6 ways to prepare for a disaster, AARP has reached out to the nation's leading health and safety experts to keep readers secure in their surroundings with simple tips to protect you and your loved ones that may even save your life.

Where Are the Doctors You'll Need? A shortage of geriatricians is leading to a major public health concern. Geriatricians are critical, becoming increasingly important as America ages. Yet these specialists are in short supply and the shortage is becoming more severe. The United States will need more than 23,000 new geriatricians by 2030 according to the American Geriatrics Society to provide specialized care to the 74 million Americans who will be over age 65.

Medicare Mistakes: Medicare is uncharted territory for most of the 10,000 people who come into the program each day. It's not a minefield exactly, but lurking in the undergrowth are pitfalls and traps that can be costly unless people take care to dodge them. This highly informative article helps explain Medicare and its complexities to AARP Bulletin readers.

He Wants to Retire. She's Not Ready. What Now? Husbands and wives don't always agree about when to stop working—or how to resolve their differences. "Two-career boomers are the first generation that has had to deal with his-and-her retirements," says sociologist Phyllis Moen, author of Encore Adulthood: Boomers on the Edge of Risk, Renewal and Purpose. Indeed, fewer than 20 percent of all couples quit working in the same year. And a recent study found that 38 percent of retired couples disagree on the lifestyle they want to lead. April's AARP Bulletin examines out-of-sync retirements and the best way to realign to get these retirements back in sync.

The Cons of April: Tax scams, free-lunch seminars, vacation scams and flood cars are four scams to watch out for this April and AARP doesn't want you to get soaked by the month's sneakiest schemes. With Tax Day, April's AARP Bulletin suggests that you beware of emails supposedly from the IRS or other tax collectors; invitations to lower your tax bill such as free-lunch seminars; vacation scams offering a free cruise or resort stay or airline tickets; or "flood cars," vehicles with water damage from storms that insurers declare a loss, which are then bought by unscrupulous vendors at auction, quickly cleaned, then sold to unsuspecting dealers or individual buyers.

Tom Frieden, Chief Disease Detective: In an exclusive interview, Tom Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and noted epidemiologist discusses global health, the importance of exercise, flu, E.coli, and even zombies.

Saving For Your Future: AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins discusses how people are now living more active and engaged lives—often 20 to 30 years longer than the previous generations— and many will need more money to finance this longer life. Over half of all households nearing retirement have absolutely no retirement savings, and Social Security provides most of the retirement income for about half of all households headed by people age 65 and older. Jenkins states that now, time has come to change the conversation—or start one—about preparing financially for our later years.

About AARP Bulletin
The definitive news source for AARP's members, AARP Bulletin (http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/) reaches more than 23.5 million households each month in print, with additional news and in-depth coverage online. Covering health and health policy, Medicare, Social Security, consumer protection, personal finance, and AARP state and national news developments, AARP Bulletin delivers the story behind the key issues confronting 50+ America. The monthly consumer-oriented news publication has become a must-read for congressional lawmakers and Washington opinion leaders, and it provides AARP members with pertinent information they need to know.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

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SOURCE AARP