MEMPHISPIXNEWS / MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY
Local life and solutions for adults 40+.
Events, news, practical resources and safety information for Memphis and Shelby County.
Local resource guide · Sources checked Oct. 5, 2026
01 / EVENTS
Arts, classes, outings and good company.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Oct. 6, 5:30–7 p.m. Discuss American politics with Rhodes professor Thomas Goodman at the Meeman Center. Dorothy C. King Hall, Rhodes College, 2000 North Parkway; online attendance is also offered. $40 per session. Check registration and availability with the center.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Oct. 7, 11 a.m.–noon. A beginner class for adults and seniors covers everyday computer skills and online safety. Whitehaven Library, 4120 Mill Branch Road. Library computer classes are free; confirm attendance arrangements with the branch.
Saturday, Oct. 10
Oct. 10, 3–4:30 p.m. Tennessee Shakespeare Company presents Love’s Labor’s Lost on the outdoor grounds of Raleigh Library, 3452 Austin Peay Highway. Free. The comedy runs 90 minutes without an intermission; confirm weather arrangements with the organizer.
Community calendar
Explore MemphisPixNews’ community listings for arts, entertainment, civic meetings, fitness and other local activities. Check the organizer’s event link for current times, admission prices and accessibility before you leave home.
When suggesting an event for Memphis Maturities, include the date, hours, price, address, organizer’s link and any age or registration requirements.
02 / NEWS
Local and national developments that affect your life.
LOCAL / OCT. 5
MLGW’s board meets Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8:30 a.m. at 220 S. Main St., as revealed by the utility’s meeting notice. Residents can attend or watch online. People wishing to speak must submit a comment card to MLGW Security by 8:30 a.m.; the utility recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early.
NATIONAL / OCT. 5
Medicare’s annual open enrollment runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7, as revealed by Medicare.gov. During that window, beneficiaries can change Medicare health and drug plans or switch to Original Medicare. This is separate from Marketplace enrollment. For help understanding the choices affecting you or a parent, contact Tennessee SHIP for free, unbiased counseling.
03 / RESOURCES
Solutions for you and your aging parents.
A LOCAL STARTING POINT
Start with the Aging Commission of the Mid-South for information about services for older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers. Describe the need—help at home, meals, caregiver relief or transportation—and ask about the right program, eligibility and availability.
Call 901-222-4111Medicare
Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling to eligible individuals, families and caregivers. Call 1-877-801-0044, or contact the Aging Commission’s local SHIP coordinator at 901-222-4105. Ask for help understanding your choices before committing to a plan.
Tennessee SHIP · Local SHIP contact
Have your questions, current coverage information and medication list ready for the counselor. Ask how costs, participating doctors and prescription coverage compare for your situation.
Property taxes
The Shelby County Trustee administers distinct Tax Relief and Tax Freeze programs. Tax Freeze is for qualifying homeowners 65 and older; Tax Relief serves eligible older adults, people with disabilities and certain veterans. Requirements differ. Call 901-222-0200 for current applications and deadlines. The Trustee does not administer municipal Tax Relief for Memphis, Germantown or Collierville.
Ask which program applies to each of your tax bills, what documents you need and whether you must renew. Confirm city requirements separately with the applicable municipality.
Legal help
Memphis Area Legal Services identifies elder abuse and financial exploitation among the issues it addresses. The organization provides civil legal help for people with low incomes in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale counties. Contact MALS to ask about eligibility and whether it can help with your particular problem.
Describe the legal issue first and ask what documents to gather. If planning ahead, ask a qualified attorney about the arrangements appropriate for your family.
Active living
Memphis Parks’ senior centers offer recreation and social programs, with age requirements varying by location. Lucille McWherter’s programs serve ages 55 and up; Ruth E. Tate lists programs for adults 50 and up. Check each center’s current schedule, registration rules and fees before going.
Ask about beginner classes, accessibility, parking and whether you can try an activity before joining. Choose a location you can reach regularly.
Skills & technology
Memphis Public Libraries offers free computer classes at different branches, along with online learning resources. Start with the skill you need most: using email, managing files, navigating the internet or becoming more comfortable with everyday technology. Check the library’s calendar for current classes and registration.
Tell the library what you want to learn and ask which class fits your experience. Confirm whether equipment is provided or you should bring your own device.
Work & retirement
Still working, considering part-time work or planning retirement? Social Security’s retirement resources let you explore benefit estimates and application timing. Use the official information as a starting point for a broader conversation about household expenses, work and the life you want to lead.
Social Security retirement resources
Write down your expected monthly expenses, the work you want to continue and the questions you need answered. Bring those questions to an adviser who can assess your own circumstances.
Help at home
The Aging Commission of the Mid-South assesses care needs and eligibility for home and community services. Its OPTIONS program includes homemaker assistance, personal care and home-delivered meals. Call Information & Assistance at 901-222-4111 to ask what may fit your parent’s situation, including availability and any cost sharing.
Aging Commission in-home services
Describe which everyday tasks are becoming difficult, whether your parent lives alone and what help the family already provides. Ask about eligibility, waiting lists and the next step.
Caregiver relief
The Aging Commission lists caregiver education, counseling, support groups and respite services. Respite can provide relief from caregiving duties, with eligibility requirements for particular services. Ask about in-home help or adult day care rather than waiting until the family is overwhelmed.
Ask which services are available, how often they can be used, what they cost and how arrangements are made. Be clear about the hours when you need help most.
Meals & connection
MIFA Meals on Wheels serves nutritionally at-risk adults 60 and older who are frail, homebound or disabled. Eligibility screening begins with the Aging Commission at 901-222-4111. MIFA also offers community dining; ask about the nearest site and its application process.
Ask about service availability, any waiting list and meal arrangements. Explain whether shopping, cooking or getting to a dining site is the main difficulty.
Care facilities
MIFA’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and homes for the aged. It investigates and mediates complaints and helps families understand residents’ rights. The program also serves people considering these facilities in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale counties.
Keep a clear record of your concern, including dates, what happened and whom you contacted. Ask the ombudsman how to raise the issue and what information is needed.
Lifelong learning
Rhodes College’s Meeman Center offers noncredit adult courses across the humanities, sciences and arts. Its classes welcome curious learners, and many offerings allow in-person or online attendance. Consult the current program for dates, fees and registration rather than relying on an old course list.
Meeman Center for Lifelong Learning
Ask about the subject, reading expectations, location and online access. Choose a single course or session that fits your interests and schedule.
Volunteering
MIFA offers volunteer opportunities through Meals on Wheels and its Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. The roles have different training and commitment requirements. Ask which opportunity fits your time, interests and ability to travel.
Ask about orientation, the weekly commitment, transportation and any screening requirements. Explain the skills you would like to contribute.
04 / CRIME & FRAUD
What to watch for—and where to report it.
HEALTH INSURANCE / OCT. 5
The FTC’s older-adult roundtable last week highlighted scams that seek money and personal information during Medicare and Marketplace enrollment. Some sellers offer purported health plans with little useful coverage. Verify who you are dealing with and use official Medicare information or SHIP counseling when comparing choices.
COMPUTERS & PHONES
A sudden computer warning can be a tech-support scam, the FTC advises. Do not call the number in the pop-up or give an unexpected caller remote access to your computer. Contact a trusted support provider through contact information you find independently.
LOCAL REPORTING
MPD’s How Do I page links to crime reporting, CrimeStoppers tips, online reports and local police stations. For a suspected scam, the FTC’s reporting portal collects fraud reports. Keep messages, dates and payment details that can help explain what happened.
Fraud prevention
A caller claiming to represent a government agency can be an impostor. The Federal Trade Commission warns about demands for money or personal information, including requests to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer. End the contact and verify the claim through an official number you find independently.
FTC government impersonation guidance
Agree on a family routine: pause, verify and talk to someone you trust before responding to an urgent payment demand. Do not use the number or link supplied by the unexpected caller.
KEEP THIS GUIDE GROWING
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