The Senior Scene

Before he retired, Jim Ko was an executive in the consumer goods industry with Starbucks (leading business negotiations and product launches in Asia and Europe), Pepperidge Farm, DuPont, and Kraft Foods. Then he turned to volunteering in the AARP Tax-Aide program, helping seniors complete their federal tax returns. And now he has a new role with AARP–as president of the organization’s Washington chapter.

“His passion for community service and commitment to improving the lives of older Washingtonians and their families will serve our (nearly 940,000) members well,” said state director Doug Shadel, who announced Ko’s appointment to replace Mike Tucker, who served as state president from 2014 to this year.

Ko said he welcomes being part of AARP’s advocacy on consumer protection, health and long-term care issues that “not only affect today’s older adults, but also their families and friends for generations to come.”

“Of particular concern right now is the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs,” he said. “In Washington, the average annual cost of brand-name prescription drug treatment increased 58 percent between 2012 and 2017, while the annual income for Washingtonians increased only 9.9 percent. Prescription drugs don’t work if patients can’t afford them.”

Ko and his wife Catherine live in Seattle and have two grown children.

The leaves are starting to fall, and while the hard work of summer lawn and garden care may be over, now’s the time to tackle a few landscaping tasks that need to be finished before winter arrives. By completing these chores now, you will be able to jump right in when spring arrives. Here are 10 top tasks for winterizing your lawn and garden this fall:

• Prepare a list and a schedule. First off, you have to map out a winter gardening itinerary to follow. You need to know your area’s frost dates, for starters. The U.S. Department of Agriculture website has a plant-hardiness zone map you can use as reference to know which plants are best at surviving cold weather, and which need special care. You can also consult a local gardening almanac according to city, state, or zip code. These give specific tips on what to grow where. You can then schedule the chores, tasks, and other activities that need to be done in your winterizing list. Small acts like rolling up garden hoses, putting plastic containers away to prevent from cracking, and draining the fuel tank of lawn mowers will save you a lot of heartache (and money) when spring rolls around. 
• Get rid of weeds. Many can survive the cold and wreak havoc on your plants. Carefully remove those with seed heads so that none will come out. Even a tiny portion of seeds can germinate fast and invade your garden in a matter of weeks. Make sure the weeds are nowhere in contact with your other plants and soil. Put them in a covered garbage bin where they belong. This is the perfect time to till and turn over the soil while it’s still easy to work. You’ll be saving yourself the extra labor in the spring when the soil is hard and cold from winter. Finish by covering the beds with a layer of organic fertilizer such as chicken or cow manure.
• Trees and shrubs have a tendency to become overgrown over time. When they become too big for their space or need to be moved for other reasons, fall is the ideal time to move them to their new home.
• Keep shrubs snug and warm. You can wrap them with a burlap sack or a thick fabric to keep them from freezing and suffering windburn. Never use plastic because it doesn’t breathe, and can overheat young plants. When the weather becomes warmer, remove the wrapping right away.
• Spend a bit of time during fall planting new bulbs in pots and in- ground, so you can enjoy an array of color and beauty in the early spring. Bulbs can be divided during this time allowing for the chance to control their size and location. Plant excess bulbs in other parts of the yard.
• Cut back and shape perennials such as shrubs, trees, grasses, and plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas and rhododendrons.
• Prep hoses and outdoor faucets for cold by disconnecting all hoses. Roll them up and store with sprinklers and wands. Insulate all exposed pipes and exterior water faucets to prevent them from freezing.
• Help your lawn grow green and healthy next spring by aerating, over-seeding and fertilizing now. Fall is the ideal time. Use an aerator just before seeding to help improve the soil, drainage and aeration. An annual fall application of compost on top of the lawn will ensure micronutrients are improving the soil.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch. Plants need extra warmth during winter, and mulching will act as a protective blanket for them. New plants that have not taken root yet especially need mulching. It will keep moisture where it needs to be and prevent weeds from taking hold, while keeping soil temperature even for tender plants. Check in mid-January to early-February if the mulch has moved from heavy wind and rain and reapply as needed, unless you are using a weather-resistant mulch.
• Service, clean and replace tools. There’s nothing more frustrating than rusted or poorly working equipment or tools when you’re ready to use them in the spring. Clean, sharpen and oil garden tools, as well as clean and service lawnmowers and weed trimmers.  Keep them dry so they won’t freeze or rust.

Rhianna Miller, who wrote this article, is the home and landscaping design expert for Rubber Mulch, a manufacturer of mulch from recycled material.

More than one-third of Washington adults report running into relationship scams when seeking love or companionship online.

They’re among millions of Americans who are meeting others on matchmaking websites, dating apps and social media. Not all those new connections are meant to be, as 37 percent of Washington residents polled in a new AARP survey (aarp.org/onlineromancescams) reported that they, a family member or a friend have encountered attempted financial scams while seeking friendship or a love interest online.

To help empower people to take steps to protect themselves and their family members, the AARP Fraud Watch Network has launched an educational campaign to raise awareness of online-based relationship fraud schemes.

The idea of going online to broaden one’s social networks continues to gain in popularity. More than half (56 percent) of Washington adults have used the Internet to find new friends, dates and/or romantic partners, according to the AARP survey. But scammers also use the dating sites, apps and social media. The AARP survey found that 18 percent of state residents have either been victimized by an online relationship scam or know someone who was. More troubling, a significant number of victims (64 percent) reported suffering a negative effect on their physical and/or emotional health.

“Many of us, along with our family members, have successfully made new friends or even established deeper relationships online,” said AARP state director Doug Shadel. “But as with every other aspect of life these days, you must be aware that the criminal element lurks there, also. Our message is protect your heart – and your money.”

The AARP educational campaign includes advertising, webinars, podcasts, videos and tip sheets, all available at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports there were 15,000 victims of confidence fraud/romance fraud in 2017, with more than half over age 50.  Financial losses in these scams totaled $220 million in 2016, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network, which provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map, educational quizzes, and access to AARP’s podcast series, “The Perfect Scam,” was launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages. Consumers can sign up for Watchdog Alert e-mails that deliver information about scams, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with staff and volunteers trained in fraud counseling.

Source: AARP

WHEN TO KNOW AN ONLINE SUITOR MAY BE A FRAUDSTER

• They profess love too quickly.
• The person immediately wants to leave the dating website and communicate with you through e-mail or instant messaging.
• Your new romantic interest sends you a picture that looks more like a model from a fashion magazine than an ordinary snapshot.
• He or she repeatedly promises to meet you in person but always seems to come up with an excuse to cancel.
• They make a request for money for any of a variety of reasons — travel, medical emergencies, visas or other official documents, or losses from a financial setback. Nineteen percent of respondents in AARP Washington’s survey said a friend or romantic partner whom they have only met online has asked them to help them financially in some way.

Source: AARP Fraud Watch Network