In an increasingly digital world, it’s essential for older adults to stay connected and informed. Jackie Boland of AARP Hawaii spoke on Living808 about AARP’s efforts to help older adults use technology to stay healthy.
Jackie shared that the AARP Hawaii chapter has partnered with Senior Planet to offer free in-person classes on Oahu and Maui. Senior Planet, part of AARP, has been educating seniors about technology for 20 years, and their classes aim to equip seniors with the digital skills they need.
On Friday, Aug. 2, the Kaunoa Senior Center in Paia will host a session on online privacy at 9 a.m. and a session on recognizing AI-generated content at 10:30 a.m. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the Generations Magazine Aging in Place conference at the Ala Moana Hotel will feature six sessions from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., covering topics such as smart homes, digital wallets, streaming and smart TVs, caregiving and housing options, brain health and fraud prevention.
For those who can’t attend in person, Senior Planet offers online courses at seniorplanet.org and a toll-free hotline (888-713-3495) where people can get live help from technology trainers. AARP Hawaii is also recruiting local nonprofits to provide the Senior Planet curriculum free of charge and teach their kūpuna about technology.
AARP’s Hawaii chapter has a busy month planned with a variety of events, including a telephone town hall with U.S. Senator Brian Schatz to discuss Social Security on Aug. 14. It also plans to launch a new campaign, “When You Wen Grad?”, encouraging graduates from 1977 to 1990 to consider Social Security and Medicare in their retirement planning. In addition, a Seniors at Home conference is scheduled for Aug. 24 in Maui, with sessions on legal issues, fall prevention, decluttering and home improvements.
For more information, visit http://aarp.org/local or the events tab on the AARP Hawai’i Facebook page.
