AARP Washington State Podcast

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

Are you worried about your finances for retirement? "Pre-tirement" is a new term for what you can do as you get closer to retirement. AARP is helping to launch a special website to help you and AARP money expert Mary Liz Burns is here to explain how. Visit https://thisispretirement.org/ to learn more and get your personalized retirement savings action plan.

In our new Caregiving Conversation, NBC/MSNBC news anchor Richard Lui joins our state director Marguerite Ro to talk about caring for his father with Alzheimers over the last decade and how he become a passionate advocate for those caring for loved ones. Richard nearly gave up his network television career to be there for his dad. He found ways to make it work and now is highlighting solutions for others to get the support they need. Learn more about caregiving at aarp.org/caregiverswa and about Richard at richardlui.com

In this Caring For Caregivers Conversation, our state director Marguerite Ro welcomes Patty Albert and Margaret Griffiths, who share their challenges and successes in caring for family members and friends who've needed their help. The discussion focuses on their real-life experiences and what helped them get through. Patty and Margaret trade stories of their own caregiving journeys – both the good, and the not-so-good. And along the way, they shared their own tips and advice – on everything from finances and family dynamics, to self-care and when to know it's time to ask for help. Find resources for those who care for others in our state from AARP Washington at https://aarp.org/caregiverswa

AARP Washington, BECU, and KING 5 hosted a free event to celebrate and support those who provide care for others at Town Hall Seattle. MSNBC news anchor, filmmaker and author Richard Lui cared for his father with Alzheimers over the last decade and he's become a passionate advocate for family caregivers. Dr. Kate Zhong, geriatric psychiatrist and founder of the Brainnovation Initiative at UNLV gave practical advice and info on the latest in brain research. KING 5 Evening host Jim Dever moderated the discussion. And find more support and resources for people giving care for others in our state at aarp.org/caregiverswa

Join our state director Marguerite Ro for a deep dive on managing finances for caregiving with Rachelle Czaplinski, CTFA, Senior Trust Officer at BECU. From savings options to choosing the right financial advisor and exploring diverse investment accounts, Rachel covers what you need to know. Saving Strategies for Caregivers: Discover smart ways to build a financial cushion to handle the various aspects of caregiving. Selecting the Right Financial Advisor: Understand the key factors to consider when choosing a financial advisor tailored to your caregiving needs. Exploring Different Investment Accounts: Delve into the world of investment accounts suited for caregiving scenarios. Rachel breaks down the pros and cons, helping you make informed decisions. Learn more about caregiving in Washington at aarp.org/caregiverswa

Being a person who cares for loved ones can be most stressful at the holidays. In this Caring For Caregivers Conversation, George Dicks returns to chat with our state director Marguerite Ro. George leads geriatric psychiatry services at Harborview Medical Center and so he's very familiar with seasonal challenges in caregiving. He has some tips and reflections on navigating this time of year. He also recently served as a caregiver for his brother in his final days so he shares his personal journey of caregiving. It wasn't quite what he expected. You can get resources on family caregiving in WA at aarp.org/caregiverswa