Lisa: What is being done to protect elderly pedestrians? I often see elderly people trying to cross the street before the light changes and sometimes they don't make it. A few more seconds added would be helpful, don't you think?

Diane: I see AARP fighting for pedestrian safety of our elderly. But I also see little change, the streets are too dangerous for us elderly to cross. Just look at the elderly being killed, and with the holidays, this will worsen. What is AARP doing to step up efforts during this dangerous holiday season of inattentive drivers and many pedestrians trying to share the road?

Stanton: Since your questions are similar, I'll answer both of you at the same time.

Hawai'i is the most dangerous places in America to be a pedestrian 65 and older. AARP believes that it's a combination of implementing the 3 E's: good engineering design, enforcement and education. Pedestrian safety advocates were successful in persuading the Legislature to pass a critical Pedestrian Safety bill (SB 1191, Act 10) which provides $3 million for a statewide pedestrian safety campaign and for improvements by the state and counties at the 50 most dangerous intersections. However, the funding is being held by the state administration. We urge you to appeal for the immediate release of these funds. We also ask you to work with the transportation departments to have them focus on putting the needed improvements at the targeted dangerous intersections and not just where the roads are being repaired. It's time to put pedestrians first.

Al Beeman: I'm very worried about the lack of access to certain medical procedures on the Neighbor Islands. What are we supposed to do in case of an emergency such as a stroke or heart attack?

Stanton: Access to affordable, quality healthcare is one of our greatest concerns. Residents living on the Neighbor Islands and parts of rural Oahu are especially vulnerable.

For this reason, AARP is launching a public campaign called "Divided We Fail" to compel our nation's leaders to take action so that all Americans can count on health and long-term financial security. We need to make sure that all candidates know that this is the top priority for the residents and that sufficient support will be in your community to provide the necessary services. Please stay involved in the electoral process and hold the elected person accountable.

Aimee: I am a 23-year-old college student. I've heard that as the baby boomers grow older, our Social Security system might run out of money. What can we do, or how can we all (younger and older generations) work together to ensure financial security for every generation?

Stanton: We must work together to create solutions that benefit all generations. Individuals, businesses, elected officials and private citizens all have a role to play in ensuring that America continues to be strong. Our mission is to galvanize the public, policymakers and business leaders to strengthen Social Security, help people save for retirement and have better pensions, and give people tools to increase their financial literacy.

I'm encouraged about our future when a 23-year-old college student like you is looking ahead at these issues.

Shirlee Shumway: Does AARP support the idea of increasing the traditional retirement age of 65?

Stanton: In the 2lst century, we are redefining what it means to retire in America. It may surprise you to know that 40 percent of AARP's 155,000-plus members are either employed or self-employed. Our surveys show that most of our members intend to continue working well into their late 60s and beyond. AARP strongly encourages the right for people to work as long as they can remain productive and find it satisfying. We are working with the business community to make sure that businesses understand the value of our most experienced and talented residents and that they are open to making the workplace more attractive for the older worker, especially given our very low unemployment rate of 2.7 percent.

Malcolm Findley: The number of people promoting themselves as financial planning experts seems to have grown in recent years. Given the confusing number of investment and so-called investment experts in Hawai'i today, how do you know where to turn or who to trust?

Stanton: Unfortunately, seniors are a favorite target of scams. AARP is committed to providing seniors throughout Hawai'i with the information and resources they need to protect themselves and their nest eggs. One thing every Hawai'i investor should do is call the Hawai'i Securities Commission to check the credentials of the broker/dealer they work with to ensure that they are properly licensed. Also, we encourage you to attend one of our many financial fraud seminars that are held several times a year statewide.

Rodlyn: What kinds of programs does AARP offer people who are concerned about avoiding financial fraud targeted at seniors?

Stanton: One of the most popular events AARP hosts each year is a public document shredding event where people throughout the community can bring their sensitive financial and medical documents to be disposed of safely. We also conduct numerous seminars on safe and wise investing. We also have a volunteer Fraud Fighting Squad that teaches others how to avoid being scammed.

John T.: A lot of people in Hawai'i work two or more jobs yet still can't seem to save money, let alone prepare for a comfortable retirement. What advice do you have for someone who's living from paycheck to paycheck and finding it hard to put something aside?

Stanton: In order to increase personal saving among workers of all ages, AARP supports automatic enrollment by employers of employees in 401(k) programs, with the option to "opt out." Automatic enrollment helps people save more for retirement. A recent study of employer-sponsored retirement plans shows that employees are nearly unanimous in their support of being automatically enrolled in their companies' 401(k) plans. In 2008, in partnership with key business associations, AARP Hawai'i will heighten awareness among small- and medium-sized employers of the benefits of auto enrollment in 401(k) programs, for both employers and employees through a series of meetings on all islands.

Gary Simon: Hawai'i doesn't have enough affordable nursing home beds to support the large number of people growing older in our state. What's going to happen to us when we get old and have no place to go?

Stanton: You're absolutely correct that the dire lack of nursing home beds is at a crisis point in Hawai'i. Our senior population is exponentially increasing. According to the 2000 census, about 17 percent of our population is 60-plus and by 2020, about one in four will be 60-plus.

AARP believes that all Americans with long-term care needs should be able to live in the setting of their choice, including their own homes and communities. We support increasing our nursing home capacity with building incentives, and increased funding for home and community based services to enable people to live in their homes should they so desire.

Dora: The cost of healthcare in Hawai'i is very worrisome, especially for the many residents who are working hard to cover their families but are still just one serious incident away from financial catastrophe. What can be done to address this issue?

Stanton: Sadly, for many, families are just one medical emergency away from financial ruin.

This is why we have launched "Divided We Fail" — a national effort designed to engage the American people, businesses, nonprofit organizations and elected officials in finding bipartisan solutions to ensure affordable, quality healthcare and long-term financial security — for everyone.

We know that nationally 47 million Americans are uninsured, retail prescription drug costs rose three times faster than inflation in recent years and national savings are at an all-time low (the lowest since the Depression), pension plans are dwindling, and 50 percent of private sector workers aren't signed up for 401(k) type retirement plans.

If these trends don't change, the next generation may well be the first in U.S. history to be worse off than their parents.

Accountability is critical and we ask that you ask current and future elected officials to commit to resolving the healthcare crises and the need for lifetime financial security.

AARP believes all Americans should have:

Barry: I'm concerned about the emotional and financial pressures on family caregivers who are raising children of their own and have the additional responsibility of caring for their aging parents or grandparents. What kind of support is available for family caregivers in Hawai'i?

Stanton: "Sandwich" caregivers — who simultaneously care for their children and their aging parents — are some of the most stressed residents in our state and our country.

This is why we support the proposals of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving to provide financial support for family caregivers; caregiver-friendly work policies to balance employment and caregiving, including paid family leave programs, which would provide for paid leave through the Temporary Disability Insurance based on employee contributions; caregiver respite services; and additional assistance for grandparents raising grandchildren in education, healthcare and housing.

Hawai'i ranks highest among all states for the percentage of children living in households headed by grandparents — almost 13 percent.

In 2005, AARP supported the successful passage of a bill to help grandparents gain access to the health information of their grandchildren and we hope to see more supportive policies and legislation adopted.

Funding for Home and Community based services has been dramatically cut. We need to reinstate and increase funding for vital safety net programs.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.