AARP in San Jose is Ready to Take on April with You!

AARP in San Jose is here to help you take on April with Coronavirus (COVID-19) support, local resources, information, services and more.

AARP ON COVID-19:
In the face of the ongoing health crisis, AARP is providing information and resources to help older adults and those caring for them protect themselves from COVID-19 and prevent it from spreading to others. FREE AARP resources available include:

• Information on Coronavirus and online tools at aarp.org/coronavirus and in Spanish at aarp.org/elcoronavirus.
• Weekly informational Coronavirus Tele-Town Halls with guest experts every Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. You can participate by calling 1-855-274-9507 toll-free or visit aarp.org/coronavirus.
• An online platform, aarpcommunityconnections.org, to help combat social isolation during the health crisis and offer virtual volunteer opportunities.

LOCAL RESOURCES:
Food and Meal Services
For low-income households in need of groceries, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley offers a toll-free hotline that helps people in need of food find resources in their neighborhood. Individuals can call 800-984-3663 or text GETFOOD to 408-455-5181 to request assistance.

For older adults seeking prepared meals, Santa Clara County’s Senior Nutrition Program continues to serve adults over 60, disabled adults that live with older adults, and the spouses of people that are 60 and over. This program now follows a take-out model at most locations, while a handful of locations have temporarily closed to encourage seniors to shelter at home. To learn more and request meals, click HERE.

In the San Francisco Area, the Self Help for the Elderly delivers meals to seniors throughout the region. To learn more and request meals, click HERE.

Throughout the greater Bay Area, Meals on Wheels is also providing food delivery to older adults and those in need.

• Alameda County, call 510-865-6131 or click HERE.
• Contra Costa County, call 866-669-6697 or click HERE.
• Marin County, call 415-4636 or click HERE.
• Napa County, call 707-253-6100 or click HERE.
• San Francisco County, call 415-355-6700 or click HERE.
• San Mateo County, 800-675-8437 or click HERE.
• Santa Clara County, call 408-961-9870 or click HERE.
• Solano County, call 707-425-0638 or click HERE.
• Sonoma County, call 707-565-2241 or click HERE.

For additional information on resources being offered throughout California, click HERE.

The provided links will direct you to a third-party vendor. Any information provided will be governed by the vendor’s privacy policy

Financial Support
In April, AARP is sharing resources and information to help you manage your financial decision.

• Visit AARP Money Map™ HERE to take control of unplanned expenses. This new free online tool will help you deal with unexpected medical, car or home expenses, including everything from tips on negotiating your costs to payment options that you may not have considered.
• Visit AceYourRetirement.org HERE for tips to get the most of your retirement savings.
• Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network online HERE to find out how you can best protect yourself from the latest impostor scams and keep your identity safe.

Fraud and Scam Prevention
The San Francisco Police Department has received information about individuals going door to door claiming to be Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees – these individuals are imposters. Unfortunately, it is common for fraudsters and scammers to use pandemic fears to trick people. To learn how you can protect yourself and your family from fraud and scams, click HERE. If you or a loved one suspects a scam, call the toll-free AARP Fraud Watch helpline at 877-908-3360.

Tax Aide
As COVID-19 developments change hour by hour, AARP Foundation is doing its part to prioritize the health of taxpayers, volunteers, and the communities served. Accordingly, they have suspended AARP Foundation Tax-Aide services until further notice.

AARP Foundation Tax Aide will continue to assess whether they can open again in some or all Tax-Aide sites now that the tax filing deadline has been postponed to July 15, 2020. Check the web page HERE periodically or call 1-888-227-7669 for updates.

Drivers Safety Courses
The AARP Smart Driver course is the nation’s first refresher course specifically designed for drivers age 50 and older. In many states, drivers may benefit from a discount on their auto insurance premium upon completing the course. All in-person courses have been postponed during the health crisis, but online courses continue to be offered. To learn more click HERE.

LOCAL VOLUNTEERING:
AARP Volunteer Recruitment
AARP is seeking additional volunteers for events and education outreach in San Jose and the Greater Bay Area. Event Team members provide support at community functions, while Education Team members give presentations to small groups on topics such as home repairs to facilitate aging in place, caregiving, and brain health. Training and support are provided to all interested volunteers. There are also opportunities to volunteer virtually! To learn more and express interest, email cavolunteer@aarp.org or call 626-585-2612 and leave your name, phone number and email.

LOCAL EVENTS:
To protect AARP members, staff and volunteers, AARP is following the guidance of the CDC and has temporarily suspended AARP in-person events, including Movies for Grownups screenings and the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. When the time is right, AARP will look forward to rescheduling these popular programs and events.

Check back the first of every month to learn about new AARP offerings in San Jose and the Greater Bay Area.