WASHINGTON—It sometimes seems retailers, service providers and other big bureaucracies will do anything they can to avoid interacting with you in person to resolve a complaint or conflict. But there are ways to use that to your advantage. In the new issue of AARP Bulletin, top professionals in customer care explain exactly what to do to get the good treatment and fair outcome you want and deserve, reveal whether loyalty to a company provides any tangible benefits, and detail when relying on human interaction might actually NOT be to your benefit.

Good customer care is an issue of great importance to older Americans, who often are stereotyped by younger customer-service representatives and so get lesser care than they should. Yet with age, interactions with insurance companies, government agencies like Social Security, and large financial institutions greatly increase. With our three-step guide to top-grade care, older Americans can learn effective ways to get their concerns addressed.

Using advice from consumer advocates, behavioral economists and customer service researchers, AARP Bulletin writers discuss the techniques that will help you get to the front of the queue. We also detail ways to avoid having to deal with customer service in the first place. And look for our Better Care Guides, containing information on how to make the most out of your high-stakes interactions with specific organizations like health insurance companies, Social Security, the IRS and the DMV.

In this month’s cover story, learn how to:

• Reach an actual client representative as quickly as possible,
• Create a useful log of your interactions,
• Advocate for yourself in stressful customer service situations,
• And much more.

PLUS:

Your Money

What a Will Won’t Do: Did you know a will can be overruled by other paperwork? In fact, most financial accounts—from retirement savings to everyday savings accounts—usually fall out of the scope of a will, leaving your loved ones at risk for loss if they aren’t named as the beneficiaries. In this month’s Bulletin, we offer tips on how you could  protect them (and yourself) as you plan.

Your Health

Ahhh, Relief: How to Reduce Muscle Aches: Feeling achy from a stiff office chair, bad night’s sleep or a little too much pickleball? Using household items such as tennis balls, foam rollers and socks, we show you easy ways to roll away aches, pains, and muscle tension, without a trip to the spa or masseur. Plus, a guide to the latest self-massage gear, including super-popular massage guns.

Fraud Watch

Tricky Texts: Getting texts or emails that seem suspicious? Phone-oriented scams are on the rise, but many fraudulent texts and emails leave a trail of clues that they aren’t for real. We break down what to look for and spot in a message before you hit ‘reply’ with any personal information.

Your AARP

Staying Connected: AARP’s presence on social media is both wide and deep. Find out about our highly successful ongoing feeds on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, and how we create a unique experience in each channel.

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.

WASHINGTON—In a jam-packed August/September issue of AARP The Magazine (ATM), cover star Jamie Lee Curtis offers special lessons from the “Jamie University”; first responders share their stories for the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks; top home improvement pros offer suggestions on how to make your house a forever home; and this month’s Fraud Watch warns of a new, sinister robocall scam on the rise. Plus, two newsworthy health reports: the daily habits most hurting your brain, and an investigation into the steep climb in autoimmune diseases in America.

In this issue of AARP The Magazine:

Cover Story: Jamie Lee Curtis
Emerging from the pandemic with excitement, enthusiasm and a revised view of the rest of her life, actress, author and advocate Jamie Lee Curtis reveals in AARP The Magazine’s cover story how she is making up for lost time. The former “scream queen” and two-time Golden Globe winner opens up about finding creative outlets, embracing her age, and better appreciating each moment in her life. Curtis also shares an inside look into her longtime marriage with her “one and only” Christopher Guest.

Fraud Watch: Meet ‘Becky from Medicare’

A new, fraudulent robocall is targeting older Americans across the country. The scammer often claims to be named “Becky,” a fake Medicare representative who threatens to use your information in insidious ways. In this month’s Fraud Watch, we offer suggestions on how to stop this cold caller in its tracks.

Marlee Matlin

Oscar-winning actress, author and deaf activist Marlee Matlin discusses why you should laugh at yourself, never settle, be open to change and more. She shares a rare look into her sobriety journey and explains how motherhood changed her priorities. 

Health Report: 7 Worst Habits For Your Brain

Did you know that you can take proactive steps to support long-term cognition? AARP examines the worst habits for your brain health – from having a negative mindset to drinking sugary beverages to maintaining an unhealthy sleep routine – and offers tips on how to reverse or reduce the damage.

Voices of 9/11

On the 20^th anniversary of the nation’s most devastating terrorist attack, AARP The Magazine looks back with survivors to  share devastating and moving personal anecdotes from the day. Survivors offer insight into how they are coping 20 years later and moving forward.

When Your Body Attacks Itself: The Rising Toll of Autoimmune Disease

Four patients find themselves under attack by their immune systems, resulting in different symptoms and different diagnosies. AARP The Magazine investigates the rise of autoimmune diseases and offers suggestions on locating the best physician for you and keeping autoimmune disease in check.

How to Make Your Money Last … and Last

The No. 1 mistake most people make in retirement planning? Significantly underestimating how long they will live, studies show. Money experts show their best methods to make sure that you’ll have plenty of resources, even if you live far beyond your expectations.

7 DIY Ideas for your Forever Home

Home improvement stars Ty Pennington, Tom Silva, Nikki Boyd, Tamara Day, Leanne and Steve Ford, Liz Marie Galvan and Ahmed Hassan share their favorite DIY projects for your forever home. Learn how to use color to change your entry way, upgrade a bathroom for a little under $700, and much more can be found in this month’s issue.

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.​

LOS ANGELES—California native Jamie Lee Curtis has spent more of her life in front of the camera than not, with several prestigious accolades including two Golden Globes, a BAFTA, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more. From her early years as the “scream queen” of several hit horror movies, Curtis’s career has grown to include several iconic film and television roles, inspiring philanthropic initiatives and multiple children’s books.

Although the pandemic put a pause on many of her plans in 2020, she found herself launching a myriad of projects and pursuing new interests from her home, including a hugely popular podcast series. Now, she is emerging from the pandemic with excitement, enthusiasm and a revised view of the rest of her life. From her coastal Southern California residence, Curtis sits down with AARP The Magazine to discuss her thoughts on how to make up for lost time, how to enjoy the precious moments in life, why she believes human interaction is so powerful, and much more in an exclusive interview.

The following are excerpts from ATM’s August/September 2021 cover story featuring Jamie Lee Curtis. The issue is available in homes starting in August and online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.

On finding creativity in the midst of the pandemic:

“I wake up every day at 4 a.m. and have so much on my mind,” she explains. “I’m just so crazy excited and creative right now. And I don’t want to squander any of it.”

On embracing your age and appreciating every moment:

“Look at what age your parents died, look at what age you are. It’s not long. Laugh about it a little. And then shut up and do something! So that’s where I’m at in my life right now.”

On her shedding the negative energy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

“I am somebody who sheds every day,” she says. “Let’s get rid of that, I don’t need that.”

On being prepared for the events that you can’t predict:

“I’m your American Red Cross participant, earthquake-prepared, well-stocked person,” she admits.

On living in the moment:

“Why aren’t we wearing those Prada pants to lunch with a friend,” she asks, “rather than saying, ‘Well, I only have those for a fancy occasion’? I now feel a freedom in living authentically in the moment and being open to whatever shows up.”

On her longtime marriage with her “one and only,” Christopher Guest:

“I feel safe when I drive up and see that [he is] home.” She elaborates, “That’s the long marriage. It’s the safety of knowing his car is in the garage, that I’m not alone.”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.