AARP Online Community: AARPaz - My Journals & Blogs

Holiday Open House Planned at AARP Tucson Information Center

The AARP Tucson Information Center will hold a “Holiday Season Open House” on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11 to celebrate its fifth anniversary serving AARP members in the Tucson area. The open house will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The public and AARP members are invited to attend.

“We hope people will take a break from their busy holiday shopping to stop by, grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, enjoy some cookies and mingle with Information Center volunteers as they tour the center and learn about the types of services we provide to seniors in our community,” said David Likeness, AARP Tucson Information Center Volunteer Coordinator.

AARP Tucson Information Center is located at 6700 N. Oracle Road, Suite 331.

At the Center, visitors will find helpful information, literature and publications about AARP programs and services as well as learn about volunteer opportunities with AARP. Visitors can also receive assistance finding a local AARP Tax-Aide site or Driver Safety Course location in their area as well as information about 50+ worker employment opportunities.

AARP Arizona has about 150,000 members in the Tucson area and over 830,000 members statewide. The AARP Tucson Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call (520) 571-9884.

Added: November 20, 2009
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Medicare Open Enrollment Now Through December 31

AARP Arizona is reminding members and all older Americans that it is open enrollment for Medicare through December 31. During open enrollment, people in Medicare have the option to add, drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2010.

“Now is the time to compare current Medicare drug and health plans with others that are available and choose the one that best fits your needs,” said AARP Arizona State Director David Mitchell. Each year, AARP encourages its members and everyone in Medicare to carefully consider their options for the coming year and suggests that seniors pay particular attention to changes in the cost of Part D drug coverage.

A new AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) analysis of 2010 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans finds a majority of the most popular national plans have increased premiums and cost-sharing for next year. The report finds that more plans will require copayments of close to $100 for some brand name drugs. Other plans will require enrollees to pay a percentage of their drugs’ prices—instead of fixed copayments—for all medicines except generics. One popular national plan will charge different amounts depending on which pharmacies its customers use.

“Rising prescription drug costs push premiums and cost-sharing higher, even seniors who are happy with their current coverage should look for any changes to their 2010 plan,” Mitchell added. “Now is the time to consider coverage options and find a plan that best fits your needs and budget, in addition to talking with your doctor about lower-cost medicines that may be right for you.”

AARP encourages older Americans shopping for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage to use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov. This online tool finds plans based on a person’s location and current medications. After receiving a list of available plans, AARP recommends considering the “Four C’s”:

Costs, including the monthly premium, the annual deductible and cost-sharing.
Coverage for as many of your drugs as possible, which could save a person from paying more out of pocket.
Convenience of participating pharmacy locations or access to mail-order pharmacies.
Customer Service. Check Medicare.gov, which includes quality ratings for plans. Ask you doctors, pharmacist and friends about their experiences.

The open enrollment period is also an opportunity for people in Medicare to shop for Medicare Advantage plans, which generally combine traditional Medicare benefits with prescription drug coverage and some supplemental benefits. People in Medicare can compare Medicare Advantage plans head-to-head by using the health plan finder at www.medicare.gov. Seniors who need help finding a prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan can also contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

The December edition of AARP Bulletin looks at trends in Medicare drug plan costs for 2010. Its web site also provides a step-by-step guide to comparing drug plans and finding the best plan for you. The guide is available at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/quick_route_through_the_medicare_drug_plan_finder_2010.html.

AARP’s fact sheet on 2010 Part D plans is available at http://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/health-care/medicare/articles/fs161-medicare.html.

Added: November 20, 2009
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AARP Arizona Helps Spread Word on 50+ Worker Scholarship Program

AARP Arizona, in its continuing work with Rio Salado Community College on 50+ Worker issues is helping to spread the word regarding a unique scholarship program available to people who are at least 50 years of age. It's called the Rio Salado College Encore Teacher Program.

Rio Salado College’s Encore Teacher Preparation program has recently made available scholarship funding through the Helios Foundation for anyone who is at least 50 years of age and interested in re-careering into the field of education. Rio’s program offers an affordable way for candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree to become certified in elementary, secondary, early childhood, and special education for the state of Arizona. Completion of a certificate in one of these areas will require 35-55 hours depending on the chosen field of study.

The scholarship will assist 50+ applicants in getting started with their initial coursework towards certification with award dollars ranging from $500 - $1000.00. Rio’s in-state tuition cost if only $71.00 per credit hour.

Applicants who are interested in teaching Special Education or high school math and science will be given priority status due to the high demand of teachers for these fields, but all certification levels are eligible to apply.

For further information and guidelines, please copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.riosalado.edu/fiftyplus/Pages/default.aspx

Click the box on the right-side of your screen that reads Apply for a Helios Scholarship.

Scholarship Deadline is November 30^th and funds must be used to start coursework no later than January 15, 2010. Rio Salado’s program is an online program with additional assistance via a 50+ Career Success Coach.

Added: November 19, 2009
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Don't Get Caught in the Dark

Older Drivers: Don’t Get Caught in the Dark

AARP Offers Driving Tips for Night Driving; November Proclaimed Driver

Safety Month

The end of Daylight Savings time on Nov. 1 doesn’t just mean you’re getting an extra hour of sleep. Setting clocks back one hour also means an extra hour of night driving, which can be problematic for everyone, particularly older drivers.

Even on familiar roads, motorists should use caution and watch for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who will be less visible, especially during the first week of the time change. AARP urges all drivers to consider the link between night visibility and safe driving. If you have trouble seeing well at night, get your vision checked and consider taking a driver safety course to learn more about how to compensate in dark conditions and make sure you’re driving when you feel most comfortable.

To focus attention on roadway safety, AARP is proclaiming this November Driver Safety Month. Since folks will be driving more at night, AARP offers the following tips:

· See and be seen. Get your headlights checked, and turn them on one hour before sunset and keep them on one hour after sunrise to ensure maximum visibility.

· Stay alert on the road. With reduced visibility, it’s important to reduce your speed, be extra alert, and maintain a three-second following distance.

· Recognize and prevent drowsiness. The change in time can throw off our internal clock and may cause drowsiness, so run errands in the morning when you are fresher and more alert.

· Avoid sun glare. You may need to adjust to early morning or late afternoon sun glare that can cause reflections off car windows and hoods and decrease your visibility.

Now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the AARP Driver Safety Program has provided instruction to more than 12 million participants nationwide seeking to refresh their driving skills. The no-test course updates drivers’ knowledge about relevant laws and offers strategies to compensate for age-related changes that affect driving ability.

The course also includes a section on assessing driving abilities, and since November is also National Caregiver Month, now may be a good time to have a “family conversation” about driving to help ensure your loved one stays safe on the road.

Depending on insurance providers and state regulations, graduates of the AARP Driver Safety Program courses – both classroom and online – may be eligible to receive a discount on their auto insurance premiums. All participants should check with their provider for further details.

Find information on local courses, via telephone 1-888-227-7669 or online. www.aarp.org/drive. Find more information about AARP’s online course. www.aarp.org/drive/online.

Added: November 2, 2009
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How to Protect Yourself Against the Flu This Season

How to Protect Yourself Against the Flu This Season

With the arrival of the novel H1N1 (“swine flu”), many people are understandably confused about how to protect themselves against the flu this year. AARP is working with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to encourage older Americans to protect themselves and those in their care by getting vaccinated.

Experts say that, this year, a seasonal flu vaccination for people 50 and over is as important as ever. Even before novel H1N1 became a threat, flu claimed an average of 36,000 lives and hospitalized more than 200,000 Americans every year. Health authorities have long recommended that people 50 and over get a seasonal flu vaccine each year.

Experts also recommend people 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccination, which they can get at the same time as their seasonal flu vaccination. Pneumococcus is a bacteria that can cause a range of conditions, including pneumococcal pneumonia, blood infection, and meningitis. Young children and people over 65 are the hardest hit.

Both pneumococcal and seasonal flu vaccines are available now. Have you gotten yours?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older Americans are less likely to get sick from novel H1N1, perhaps due to exposure to a similar virus many years ago. However, they are more likely to suffer serious complications – and even death – from seasonal flu. Vaccination is the first line of defense, but good hygiene habits, like frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when you cough are also important. If you get sick, antiviral medications are also available to help treat the flu.

“We must not get distracted by H1N1 – we must remember our annual seasonal flu vaccination,” said Dr. Susan J. Rehm, Medical Director of NFID. “Pneumococcal vaccination is also important, and now is a great time to get both vaccines.”

Last year in Arizona, 33% of adults age 50-64 and 71% of adults 65+ got vaccinated for influenza.

70% of Arizona adults 65+ have received the pneumococcal vaccine.

“Vaccination will help more Americans stay healthy this fall and winter, so that we can keep moving – at home and at work,” said David Mitchell, AARP Arizona State Director.

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are free for anyone in Medicare and are available now at doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and health departments in our area. For more information, speak with your healthcare provider or visit www.aarp.org/flu or www.nfid.org. For up-to-date information on flu activity in Arizona, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm.

Added: November 2, 2009
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Tax-Aide Recruiting Volunteers for 2010 Tax Filing Season

The fall season is upon us and the AARP Arizona Tax-Aide program is beginning to recruit volunteers to help with the upcoming 2010tax filing season. The need for volunteers is important, especially as Tax-Aide looks to expand the program in more communities throughout the state. “We would like to offer Tax-Aide service especially in more Hispanic communities and although many of our current volunteers are bilingual, we need more volunteers to help us reach more people,” says AARP Arizona Tax-Aide State Coordinator Diane Pearson.

AARP Tax-Aide is the largest, free, volunteer run tax counseling and preparation service to low and middle-income people across the country sponsored by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS. Last year in Arizona, over 1100 Tax-Aide volunteers helped file nearly 83,000 tax returns (Federal 44,000 and State 39,000). Initial training for the Tax-Aide program begins in the fall. Pearson adds that recruitment efforts start early so that volunteers receive the support and training they need to be involved in the Tax-Aide program when it begins in February.

People of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels are encouraged to become an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer. Volunteers need not have previous tax skills and AARP membership is not required.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is set to begin early next year with tax preparation sites set up at churches, libraries, banks and senior centers. The program ends April 15, the last day of the tax-filing season.

For more information on becoming a volunteer for AARP Tax-Aide in Arizona call toll free 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) or visit the AARP web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide .

AARP Tax-Aide is administered through the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated, 501 (c) (3) nonpartisan charitable organization, established in 1961. It administers publicly and privately funded programs, such as AARP Tax-Aide and the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program. The Foundation also carries out the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy programs funded through Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Inc. These programs also receive support from AARP.

Added: September 22, 2009
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AARP Tucson Information Center Seeks Volunteers

Retired seniors looking for an opportunity to engage in rewarding community service should contact the AARP Tucson Information Center. The Center has volunteer openings for seniors interested in providing AARP information and assistance on a variety of issues. Training is available for new volunteers, basic computer skills are helpful. The AARP Tucson Information Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A variety of volunteer shifts are available. For further information on volunteering at the AARP Tucson Information Center call (520) 571-9884 or visit the Information Center at 6700 N. Oracle Road, Suite 331.

Added: September 22, 2009
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There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

Help Fight Investment Fraud in Arizona

Americans are often bombarded by junk mail; unwanted phone calls during dinnertime, and, in many cases, people are solicited with “free lunch” investment seminar invitations. Although many of these seminars sell legitimate products, there have been far too many reports of people being scammed out of their life savings.

AARP, in collaboration with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), is working diligently to fight consumer fraud by encouraging individuals to join the Free Lunch Monitor program. Thousands of people have already joined this national campaign to help monitor free lunch investment seminars.

By becoming a Free Lunch Monitor, you can help to fight fraud in Arizona. If you plan to attend a seminar, take the “What to Listen for Checklist” and report your findings to AARP. We are sharing this information with securities regulators nationwide. Please visit the web site www.aarp.org/nofreelunch to download the checklist and help make the market place safer for all investors.

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Added: September 11, 2009
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Create the Good Tool Kits Now Available in Spanish

Create The Good Toolkits Now in Spanish

To raise awareness of and engagement with AARP among Hispanic/Latino communities, Create The Good and AARP Segunda Juventud have joined forces to offer AARP's self-directed volunteering kits in Spanish. Tell your friends they can now launch their own Operation Energy Save or Operation Emergency Prepare, disseminate Home Safety Tips or help people manage drugs with RxSnapShot.

http://www.aarpsegundajuventud.org/spanish/aboutaarp/Create_the_Good/toolkits.html

Added: June 25, 2009
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Arizona Offers New 4-Hour Driver Safety Course

In Arizona, how far must you stop behind a school bus with flashing lights? Where should you place your hands on the steering wheel? How far from the steering wheel should you sit?

If you have forgotten the answers to these questions or think they haven’t changed since you first got your driver’s license, you are a prime candidate for the AARP Driver Safety Program’s new 4-hour course.

Over the past 30 years, the AARP Driver Safety Program has provided instruction to more than 12 million participants seeking to refresh their driving skills. Now the course is available in Arizona in a new 4-hour version.

Learn how best to reduce traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injuries; update your knowledge of recent changes in laws and car design; develop safe driving strategies to compensate for age-related changes.

The new 4-hour course also stresses the importance of periodically monitoring your own and your loved ones’ driving capabilities. An exhaustive workbook offers self tests and quick tips to challenge any complacency that has crept into your driving habits over the years.

“We all need to take responsibility for keeping up our driving skills and monitoring those of family members, whether young or old,” says Jerry W. Hartley, AARP Driver Safety State Coordinator. “The new 4-hour course is a great way for drivers to refocus on safety, especially as they get ready for the vacation season.”

The 4-hour Driver Safety course was piloted in Kentucky and Wisconsin and proved so popular it became a substitute for the original 8-hour version of the course. It is gradually becoming available in 20 other states. An 8-hour interactive online version of the course is available at www.aarp.org/driver/online.

For information on local courses, please call 1-888-227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/drive.

Added: April 27, 2009
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