Dotsie,

AARP would be more helpful if they push for an investigation on Nursing Home abuses, better yet, before people get there; probate/forced guardianship. This is the issue baby boomers with their love for beauty, cosmetic surgery, viagra, etc. do not want to come in terms with. We ( I'm on my 50's) ARE getting old, inspite of everything we do or do not do. That is a fact of life, trying to get more enjoyment out of it, it great, assuring while we are ok that everything in terms of the legal process that will help us when we get to the point of not been able to do so, it of outmost importance. Volunteerism to a point, takes jobs away. Besides, unless one spends lots of time at a particular site, you are not making a difference. Perhaps the best way to be a volunteer, is to hold a lonely child or unable/ old person hand, show that someone does care. also the right hand should not let the left one know what it is doing, so anyone who volunteers, should do it to do a service, not to make brownie points...