AARP in San Jose is Ready to Take on November & December 2021 with You!

AARP in San Jose is here locally to help you take on 2021 with virtual events, local resources, vaccine information and more.

LOCAL VIRTUAL EVENTS: 
Diwali Storytelling with the San Francisco Asian Art Museum: 11.7.21
Celebrate Diwali virtually with San Francisco Asian Art Museum. Enjoy tales of valiant heroes, a clever washerwoman, and the cow-herding deity Krishna, told by some of the museum’s talented storytellers. Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world observe Diwali, the Festival of Lights, on the darkest night of the year by lighting small clay oil lamps, known as dipas or diyas. Diwali marks the beginning of the new year according to the Indian lunar calendar and this year it falls on November 4th. Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Silver SPUR Awards: 11.9.21
Join us for the prestigious Silver SPUR Awards as we recognize civic leaders whose achievements exemplify the highest aspirations of the San Francisco Bay Area. The awards program will be exclusively livestreamed so that everyone in the community can tune in to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's honorees. Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Swords to Plowshare Veterans Day Event: 11.10.21 & 11.11.21
Join community based, non-profit, Swords to Plowshare for a very special Veterans Day program.

• The November 10^th program will feature a reception and mini-concert with music from violinist Master Gunnery Sgt. Peter Wilson, USMC, Ret., and pianist and California National Guard veteran Paul Schrage. MGySgt. Wilson joined "The President's Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra in 1990 and recently retired after 30 years of honorable and dedicated service to our country. Mr. Schrage is Music Director of Symphonia Caritas and the Midsummer Mozart Festival. During his time in the National Guard he was activated twice and served 3 years on active duty. Learn more and purchase your ticket HERE.
• The November 11^th program will be livestreamed to YouTube and honor a veteran with the Profiles of Courage award, as well as remarks from additional guest speakers. Learn more HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Beyond the Burnout – A Morning Forum for Caregivers: 11.16.21
Join us and the Institute on Aging for Beyond the Burnout: A Morning Forum for Caregivers and hear from three special guests as they speak about their unique experiences and perspectives on caregiving burnout. Speakers include:

• Patti Davis, daughter of United States President Ronald Reagan and author of Floating in the Deep End: How Caregivers Can See Beyond Alzheimer’s
• Roy Remer, Zen Caregiving Project’s Executive Director
• Lily Liu, Family Caregiver and AARP Historian Emerita
  

Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams: 12.9.21
We are bringing back our dynamic fraud fighting duo, Senior Inspector Jason Collom of the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and Strat Maloma, AARP California’s lead on frauds and scams, for a conversation on how protect yourself. During this virtual event, learn about common frauds and scams seen during the holiday season, including those that have been specifically targeting the Asian Pacific Islander communities. The speakers will also discuss an array of scams, how you can spot them and protect yourself, and what to do if you become a victim. Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

(CANCELLED) Avoiding Compassion Fatigue for Veteran Caregivers This Holiday Season: 12.9.21
As military and Veteran caregivers focus on care for their loved ones, physical and psychological wear and tear can lead to compassion fatigue, especially during the holidays. Participants will learn how to identify the causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue, explore options for prevention and intervention, and will have opportunities for caregivers to connect with each other. The event will also highlight the availability of respite support options and other community resources for military and Veteran caregivers. Featured speakers include renowned counseling psychologist and compassion fatigue expert, Mary Ray, RN, PhD; best-selling author and Elizabeth Dole Foundation fellow, Debbie Sprague; and AARP California VMF Advisory Committee Member, Margaret Puccinelli, CDR, NC, USN (ret). Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Prepare to Care – Caregiving Workshop with Stanford Caregiver Program: 12.10.21
No matter where you are in the journey of family caregiving – just beginning to anticipate a need, helping to coordinate a big move, or taking care of a family member full-time – having a good framework to help guide both you and your loved one will make the process easier.

During this session, we will share a framework to help you make plans to care for friends, family members, or loved ones. A representative from the Stanford Caregiver Program will provide an overview of Stanford’s free resources and services available to the public.  Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Fiesta Navideña at the Mexican Heritage Plaza: 12.10.21
Join the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza for a holiday celebration for all ages! Friends and families will enjoy live performances, music, tamales, and celebrate San Jose’s unique traditions. Find event details HERE.

San Jose Jazz Break Room Performances: 12.11.21, 12.17.21 & 12.18.21
Join San Jose Jazz for virtual and in-personal musical performances.

• December 11th: For this special concert featuring material from his upcoming Latin jazz album, saxophonist Michael O'Neill is joined by Grammy winning vocalist Tony Lindsay.
• December 17th: Featuring Flautist Rebecca Kleinmann, a natural improviser with a rich international career, uses highly-tuned musical instincts to deliver heartfelt melodies and shape intriguing solos, her playing informed by immersion in the cultures of jazz, Spain, Brazil and beyond.
• December 18th: Featuring 2021 Jazz Aid Fund grantee Giulio Xavier Cetto, a bassist, composer and vocalist based in San Francisco, California. Known for exploring multiple genres and styles, Giulio’s study of music spans continents and generations.

Learn more and purchase your ticket(s) HERE.

(RESCHEDULED) Caregivers Countdown to the Holidays: 12.16.21
Additional details forthcoming. This event has been rescheduled for 2.17.22 at Noon PT - you can register HERE.

TLC for Caregivers & a Holiday Sing Along: 12.18.21
Join the Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council’s virtual event, Wellness Where You Are- TLC for Caregivers and Holiday Sing-along. During this session hear from a panel of long-time caregivers and experts as we explore the challenges unpaid caregivers face, the importance of self-care and practical caregiving tips. This caregiving conversation will also include a fun and joyful holiday sing along! For questions, visit online or call (650) 652-3884. Learn more and register HERE. This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

Bell-Ringing Ceremony with the San Francisco Asian Art Museum: December 31^st
Join us for the San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s Japanese Bell-Ringing Ceremony – ring in the New Year by taking a swing at a 2,100-pound, 16th-century Japanese temple bell! Additional details forthcoming.

LOCAL RESOURCES: 
Bay Area COVID-19 Vaccine Information

• Alameda County: Alameda County Public Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
• Contra Costa County: Contra Costa Health Services Department COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
• Marin County:  Marin County Health & Human Services Covid-19 & Vaccine Information
• Napa County: Napa County Covid-19 and Vaccine Information
• Santa Clara County: Santa Clara County Public Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
• San Francisco County: City and County of San Francisco COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
• San Mateo County: San Mateo County Health Department COVID-19 and Vaccine Information
• Solano County: Solano County Covid-19 and Vaccine Information
• Sonoma County: Sonoma County Covid-19 and Vaccine Information 
  

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

AARP RESOURCES: 
As a trusted voice and fierce defender, AARP has been devoted to providing information and resources about all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the vaccines.  AARP is providing information and resources to protect those ages 50+ and their families from the coronavirus and help prevent it from spreading to others. Visit aarp.org/coronavirus and in Spanish at aarp.org/elcoronavirus to find free resources on health, financial security and more. Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine distribution plan in California and AARP’s efforts HERE.

Fraud and Scam Prevention 
Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork  or call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report a scam or get help if you’ve fallen victim. The aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork also offers news, tips, and online learning videos on how to spot and stop common scams.

Caregiving 
AARP supports millions of family caregivers by providing free resources and tools. View and download the AARP Prepare to Care caregiving guide, offered in English, Spanish and Chinese at aarp.org/caregiving. The website also features six questions loved ones should ask nursing homes during the health crisis, steps for caregivers worried about the crisis, legal tips for caregivers during COVID-19, and much more. Individuals taking care of a loved one can also call the AARP Caregiver Support Line at 877-333-5885. 

Connecting Virtually: How to Video Call Using Various Platforms  
Want to stay connected with friends and family by seeing them virtually but aren’t sure how? Try watching one of the following short video tutorials that demonstrate how you can stay in touch with loved ones through video chat.  

• Learn how to use Zoom HERE. 
• Learn how to use FaceTime HERE. 
• Learn how to use Skype HERE. 
• Learn how to use Facebook Video HERE. 

Manage Debt & Savings
Did you know AARP offers and array of resources and tools to help support you manage debt and save? Learn more at aarp.org/money.