Senior Planet’s Technology Hotline Saved This Caller $1,400

This free service can help you resolve technology issues over the phone

Miriam Cross,

AARP

Comments

Published March 19, 2026

AARP (Getty Images 4)

Annette Williams called the free Senior Planet tech hotline to ask for a recording of an online class she missed. She came away with oodles of advice on upgrading her home entertainment system without spending extra money on devices.

John Adams, the outreach specialist who fielded her call, provided tips on buying a new TV at an affordable price and on hearing the sound more clearly without cranking up the volume. He also suggested ways to lower the cost of streaming services. “John probably saved me $1,400,” says Williams, who is 66 and lives in Washington state. “If I could give him a rave review, he would get five-plus stars for all the information he provided in a short amount of time.”

Senior Planet from AARP is a nonprofit that helps older adults improve their lives through technology. Senior Planet became a charitable affiliate of AARP in 2021 and works with AARP state offices for programs and to reach more people with its services. The Senior Planet website hosts online and in-person classes on a variety of technology subjects, from understanding Bluetooth to ordering food via delivery apps.

But sometimes older adults have specific questions that a class for the masses or an online search won’t easily answer. That’s where Senior Planet’s free hotline (888-713-3495) comes in. From Monday to Saturday, callers can speak with specialists in English, Spanish or Mandarin. If a caller needs more specialized assistance, they can set up a free one-on-one session over Zoom with a Senior Planet volunteer.

Join Our Fight to Protect Older Americans

Here’s what you can do to help:

Sign up to become an AARP activist for the latest news and alerts on issues you care about.
Find out more about how we’re fighting for you every day in Congress and across the country.
AARP is your fierce defender on the issues that matter to people 50-plus. Become a member or renew your membership today.

“As [the world] moves toward automation and quick answers, we want to solve the problem and not just move on to the next call,” says Sean Cruse, senior communications manager at Senior Planet.

Senior Planet offers more than just technology help. Nine hundred people join the near-daily morning stretch classes. There are virtual open mic nights, online crafting hangouts and discussion groups about finding purpose after 60. A social network houses online interest groups for pet lovers, fitness enthusiasts and travelers, where they can trade tips and share goals. After a February website redesign, Senior Planet users can now create accounts to save articles and videos, get automatic reminder emails before a class starts and receive personalized content based on their interests.

Finding a quality TV at a good price

When she reached Adams through the hotline, Williams had a few tech issues on her mind. The screen on her TV, which she bought in 2016, sported two white spots that she figured were a sign of deteriorating LEDs. She couldn’t hear voices clearly through her soundbar, even though the volume was blasting. And Williams wasn’t wild about paying $15 per month for her Xumo Stream Box.

Adams had answers. He recommended buying a TV around Super Bowl time to take advantage of sales that are comparable to Black Friday’s. (Avoid Black Friday itself, when sets are mass-manufactured with cheap parts to get them out the door.) He assured Williams that a $500 or $600 television would do the trick, rather than the $2,500 to $3,000 models Williams had been considering. He suggested she replace her soundbar with Bluetooth speakers, which can be positioned strategically around the room for a surround-sound effect and won’t pose a tripping hazard with wires. Finally, he threw out a few alternatives to the Xumo box, such as a Roku Streaming Stick or an Amazon Fire TV Stick, which would require one up-front purchase rather than a monthly fee.

“He listened and came up with solutions,” Williams says. “He did not make me feel like a ‘stupid old person.’ ”

Adams built his first computer out of spare parts at age 19. If a caller’s question stumps him, he knows enough Google search tricks to find the answers. A lot of the questions he gets are about smartphones.

“Some people are great at baking but don’t know how to use an iPhone,” he says.

Adams notes that as people age, “it gets lonely and harder to ask for help.” To assist people over the phone, when he can’t look over their shoulder or point to a setting on their screen, he asks clarifying questions. “What kind of device do you have? Is it Windows, Android? What app is it?” he says. “We go from there.”

Saving money on technology is important for Williams, who is retired, because Social Security is her main source of income. She knows that one medical issue could eat up her assets. The Senior Planet hotline and the online classes have given her the confidence to solve some technology quandaries herself. For example, she used AI to learn that an HDMI switch could help her plug more devices into a lower-cost TV instead of being forced to buy a more expensive model with multiple ports.

Williams is still researching her options and wants to check out devices in a store before she decides. But she has already purchased a new riser to accommodate a 65-inch TV and replaced the rubber ring under her stereo–record player combo, which she plans to upgrade as well.

“John, especially, gave me knowledge and the courage to explore better options for my home,” Williams says. She has even passed out the Senior Planet hotline number to her neighbors.

“I’m thrilled that Senior Planet is there for us,” she says.