Tax scams, Zelle, and Venmo red flags are the latest in a line of crimes that are targeting our communities. While scams can take various forms, there are often “red flags” common to many scams. Recognizing red flags will help you avoid new and old scams alike. With the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation, Lilly Chu, Program Coordinator, joined AARP Prepare to Care Podcast host Charlene James to discuss these scams. Ms. Chu also offered tips to help you keep from becoming a fraud victim.

Older Americans are experiencing a variety of financial concerns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From having enough income to pay bills and managing health care costs to the rising costs of inflation and saving for retirement, Americans 50-plus have a lot to worry about. But for women ages 50–64, those concerns are particularly acute.  In honor of Women's History Month, we are devoting this podcast to women and finance, in particular, life after divorce, retirement funds, and available resources. On the AARP Prepare to Care Podcast, Texas attorney, Jolene Trevino of Trevino Law Firm in Houston, discussed how women can get their finances in order after a life-changing event.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and Dementia can cause emotional, spiritual, and emotional stress. From dealing with the diagnosis to caring for your loved one’s daily needs, caregivers oftentimes find themselves looking for help. AARP Texas and the organization Caregiver Wellness Retreat know there is a huge need to help those caring for someone with this debilitating disease. This is why they’ve teamed up to bring you a caregiver series devoted to helping you get your life back. Melissa Smith-Wilkinson, who founded the organization, is with us to offer easy-to-do mindfulness tools and easy use techniques caregivers can do throughout the day.

AARP has launched the AARP Veterans and Military Spouses Job Center, a new digital platform bringing together valuable information and resources to help Texas’ 1.5M veterans and military spouses compete in today’s job market. The job center includes a new Veterans Career Advantage Course to build on career planning and skills development to help navigate the job market. According to an AARP survey, more than half (56%) of employers say experience and the use of skills in previous positions are 'very important' when evaluating applicants' skills. Here to talk about it is Troy Broussard. He is a Senior Advisor with the AARP Veterans and Military Families Initiative. He’s also a U.S. Army Desert Storm veteran.

Omicron is a word I am sure you’ve heard. It’s the latest COVID-19 variant that is spreading through our communities.  But how will it affect us, and when do you know if you have Omicron, the Delta variant, cold, or flu? It's no surprise that any sniffles or cough may cause concern for many trying to stay healthy. After all, the symptoms associated with familiar illnesses, like a cold and the flu, can also be signs of the coronavirus infection. What should you look for and how soon do you turn to a doctor? Here to help us understand more about this latest variant is Dr. Janeana White, deputy local health authority, with the Houston Health Department. Free at-home COVID tests are available at COVIDtests.gov and by calling 1-800-232-0233. The phone line is open seven days a week from 7 am to 11 pm (CST). Assistance is available in more than 150 languages. Each residential household in the U.S. can order four tests regardless of how many people live there. The tests will be shipped in 7 to 12 days starting at the end of the month. Testing is a critical step in gaining control over the spread of COVID, and we applaud this monumental effort. To get more on COVID-19, symptoms, and testing sites, go to aarp.org/txvaccine.

La reputación de AARP como un amigo sabio y un defensor feroz está creciendo. Ofrecemos recursos, información para ayudar a las personas mayores de 50 años y a sus familias y comunidades. Algunos de los recursos que ofrecemos se ocupan de la prevención del fraude, que es algo que debemos tener en cuenta durante las vacaciones. Aquí con nosotros para hablar sobre los recursos que ofrecemos y el trabajo que hacemos en tu comunidad está Yvette Peña, vicepresidenta de estrategias para la audiencia hispana/latina en Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico.

¿Sabías que las empresas de telefonía móvil planean poner fin al servicio 3G, o red de tercera generación, en 2022? Esto significa que hasta 10 millones de personas necesitarán nuevos teléfonos celulares, presentando un problema adicional a los cuidadores familiares que pudieran encontrarse sin poder usar sus teléfonos celulares 3G y no poder hacer llamadas de emergencia al 9-1-1. ¿Qué tan grande será este problema y qué podemos hacer para asegurarnos de mantenernos conectados con las personas que cuidamos? Aquí para hablar sobre lo que significa perder el servicio 3-G tenemos hoy a Danielle Arigoni directora del programa de Comunidades Habitables de AARP.

Did you know that mobile phone companies plan to end 3g service, or third generation network, in 2022? It’s true. This means that up to 10 million people will need new devices. You and the person you care for may find yourselves without being able to use their 3G cell phones. That means 911 too. How big a problem will this be, and what can we do not to ensure we stay connected with the ones we care for daily? Here to talk to about what losing 3-G service means to you is Danielle Arigoni. She’s the AARP Director of Livable Communities.

Cuando una persona en el servicio militar pasa del servicio activo al estado de veterano, espera con ansias los beneficios que ha obtenido. Pero, ¿qué tan pronto comienzan esos beneficios y qué se necesita hacer para obtener esos beneficios tan importantes para su futuro? Thalia Hernandez con la Comisión de Veteranos de Texas esta aquí con nosotros hoy para hablarnos sobre los beneficios que reciben nuestros veteranos. Viene a traernos información para ayudar a los veteranos y sus familias a acceder a los recursos que tanto necesitan.

The Holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s a time for togetherness and celebration. For many of us, it’s a season of giving. Unfortunately, the gift-giving process, from purchasing the perfect gift to making sure it gets to the recipient, also brings opportunities for scammers to help themselves. An AARP study found that emotion, environment and exposure create vulnerable moments for consumers. It can be an emotional time for caregivers. Here to talk to about scams we should be vigilant about is Jennifer Salazar. She is the Texas SMP Program Director for the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation.