WASHINGTON, DC — The third-leading cause of death in the U.S., right behind heart disease and cancer, is medical mistakes, and the September issue ofAARP Bulletin features a cover story that focuses on twelve common health care blunders and how they can be avoided. Other Bulletin stories this month include: “Getting Rich After 50,” profiles of seven people who built their fortunes through unusual business ideas after turning 50, and “A Dream Realized,” a look at the new African American museum on the National Mall, 100 years in the making.

Stories in the September AARP Bulletininclude:

12 Ways the Health Care System May Be Harming You (Cover Story): In late 1999, the Institute of Medicine published a bombshell report that shook the medical establishment. It estimated that nearly 100,000 hospitalized people die each year from preventable errors. Here’s an update: If you look beyond hospitals, the problem is actually worse. A study earlier this year by Johns Hopkins University that analyzed data over an eight-year period found that more than 250,000 deaths a year were caused by mistakes by the American health care system. That would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease and cancer. Experts debate the numbers, but not the seriousness of the problem. Learn about 12 common medical mistakes that can have deadly consequences, and how to avoid them.

Getting Rich After 50: By the time most people turn 50, launching a new business that will make them wealthy would seem like a long shot. But it can be done. Seven individuals who found their fortune in unique ways tell AARP how they did it – and offer advice on turning a business idea into reality. Among them are Franny Martin, 70, who ditched her long career in marketing when she was in her 50s to create Cookies on Call, a company that delivers a dozen preservative-free cookies for less than the price of a dozen roses. Her successful cookie business has now expanded to include cakes, bread and biscotti. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Nash, 62, who had never designed anything in his life, created the design for the Juppy—a wearable, cotton baby walker that can fold up and fit in a purse. To finance the product, he sold his home and car. Nash is now a millionaire and says a key to success is that “he has an advantage many younger people don’t have: patience.”

A Dream Realized: A new museum on the National Mall looks at U.S. history through an African American lens. It’s a museum that has been 100 years in the making. In 1915, a group of African American Civil War veterans attended a reunion in Washington, D.C, and called for the creation of a memorial there recognizing the achievements of African Americans. It was not until 2003 that the museum was established by Congress as part of the Smithsonian Institution, and the groundbreaking didn’t happen until 2012 (Sneak peek video available).

Keeping Your Brain Young by Staying Fit: Exercise can’t prevent Alzheimer’s, but it may cut the risk in half according to research. Half of Americans believe games like Sudoku and crossword puzzles keep their brains healthy, according to a 2014 AARP survey—but there is little evidence that they do. If you really want to help retain mental clarity and improve your odds of staving off dementia, researchers say, hit the gym. In the past decade, scientists have begun to understand the crucial relationship between exercise and brainpower. Just as exercise helps keep muscles strong, blood vessels flexible and stress low, it also enhances mental abilities, stops brain shrinkage and promotes the formation of new neurons.

Who’s That Knocking? September heralds the end of summer, bringing cool, crisp weather—and con artists to your front step. With elections drawing near, expect campaign workers to show up at your door, along with pollsters and people offering to update your voter registration. Learn what to watch for this fall as deception goes door to door.

How to Complain: Whether the used car you just bought goes kaput, or a hotel assigns you the dungeon room, the best way to voice your disapproval isn’t to grumble, rant or moan. Experts explain the “gentler science” to making things right when you’ve been wronged.

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About AARP Bulletin
The definitive news source for AARP’s members, AARP Bulletin (http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/) reaches more than 23.5 million households each month in print, with additional news and in-depth coverage online. Covering health and health policy, Medicare, Social Security, consumer protection, personal finance, and AARP state and national news developments, AARP Bulletin delivers the story behind the key issues confronting 50+ America. The monthly consumer-oriented news publication has become a must-read for congressional lawmakers and Washington opinion leaders, and it provides AARP members with pertinent information they need to know.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

Media Contacts:
Brian Moriarty, DKC PR, 212-981-5252, Brian_Moriarty@dkcnews.com
David Helfenbein, DKC PR, 212-981-5265, David_Helfenbein@dkcnews.com
Paola Torres, AARP, 202-434-2555, ptorres@aarp.org