AARP New Jersey Speakers Bureau

AARP New Jersey’s Speakers Bureau has skilled volunteers that can speak to your group both in-person and online! Our speakers provide FREE, virtual and in-person presentations to your group of 10 or more people that address the issues that matter most to New Jerseyans 50 and older. AARP reserves the right to decline, reschedule, or cancel the request if the minimum attendance of 10 participants is not met.

If you are interested in requesting a speaker, please fill out this form.

Our speakers will present to groups throughout the state, including community organizations, non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and AARP chapters.

What presentations are available?

FRAUD

• Fraud Watch The Scam Landscape Staying Safe: This presentation helps empower individuals in the fight against fraud with proven resources and tools to help you spot and avoid identity theft and other fraud. Duration: 40 minutes
• Fraud Watch Government Impostor Scams: Scammers are becoming more and more savvy in their efforts to take your money and/or identity, especially by pretending to be from a government agency. Stay up to date on impostor scams to understand the top ways to spot and avoid them. Duration: 20 minutes
• Fraud Watch Online Romance Scams: Scammers are eager to take advantage of people looking for love and connection online. This presentation will teach you how to spot the warning signs and protect yourself while connecting with others online. Duration: 20 minutes
• Fraud Watch: Vigilance Against Cybercrime: In today’s fast-paced online environment, protecting your personal information is more crucial than ever. AARP’s workshop: Vigilance Against Cybercrime is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely. We’ll cover how to stay safe in public, at home, when using social media and when shopping and banking. We’ll also look at common scams and how to avoid them. Duration: 30-60 min.

HEALTHY LIVING

• Disrupt Aging in your Community: Disrupt Aging, a book by former AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins, serves as a nationwide call to action, encouraging people to embrace a bold new path toward living their best life at every age. Building on this message, the Disrupt Aging in your Community is a dynamic program designed to challenge common perceptions of aging and highlight the personal relevance of our society’s growing aging population. The program’s learning objectives include understanding key demographic trends in aging, defining and identifying examples of ageism, recognizing older adults as complex, multidimensional individuals, and exploring opportunities to combat ageism while empowering individuals to live their fullest lives. Duration: 1 hour.
• Downsizing and Decluttering: Having too much stuff can impede people from relocating or getting health care into their homes. This engaging presentation explores why stuff is so important for some people and teaches practice, easy-to-follow tips on downsizing and decluttering. Duration: 30 minutes
• HomeFit: Older adults want to remain in their current homes and communities for as long as possible. Yet barely one percent of the nation’s housing supply contains any “universal design” elements — such as single story living or a sink that can be reached from a wheelchair. That’s where AARP HomeFit comes in. Based on the free AARP HomeFit Guide, this presentation can help individuals and families make their current or future residence – or that of a loved one – their “lifelong home.” Duration: 30 minutes
• Six Pillars of Brain Health: This presentation is designed to empower participants to take charge of their brain health. Participants will learn about practical behaviors to support brain health. Duration: 30 minutes
• AARP Today: While you might know a lot about what AARP offers, this topic will provide information that may surprise you and help you get more from membership in AARP. Duration: 40 minutes
• Social Isolation: Social isolation has reached epidemic proportions and has a negative impact on our emotional and physical health. This program is more a workshop than a lecture that: Raise awareness around social isolation and loneliness, transform the way in which community members view social connections, and empower older adults with tools and motivation to help build and maintain strong support networks and meaningful relationships. Attendees will put pen to paper to develop a plan to maintain and expand their social connections to make their lives more full and avoid isolation. Duration: 40 minutes

CAREGIVING AND MEDICARE

• Prepare to Care: This presentation focuses on helping individuals make plans to care for friends, family members or loved ones, using the Prepare to Care guide. Duration: 30 minutes
• Making Cents of Caregiving: This presentation introduces caregivers to essential information and resources needed to more easily manage some of the financial complexities of caregiving. Duration: 30 minutes
• Medicare 101: This presentation focuses on building an understanding of the basics of the Medicare program. Duration: 30-40 minutes

FINANCIAL SECURITY

• Public Benefits for Older Adults: This presentation will demonstrate how you or a loved one can help supplement your income and decrease your spending by securing the essentials, eligible benefits, discounts and crucial refunds. We’ll cover the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Affordable Connectivity Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Medicare Savings Programs and the Medicare Extra Help Plan. You’ll walk away with easy access to resources that you can use to apply for these programs. Duration: 30 minutes
• Retirement Planning: Retirement planning doesn’t have to be daunting. Learn tips for determining if you are on track and practical strategies to help you achieve retirement peace of mind. Duration: 30 minutes
• Social Security: Understanding Your Benefits: Do you understand how Social Security works? This presentation focuses on building an understanding of what Social Security is, how to secure your benefits, and the implications of Social Security decisions. Duration: 20 minutes
• Jump Start Your Job Search: Whether you’re looking for a job or considering a career change, this workshop is designed to help. You’ll learn tips to help you develop your personal brand, grow your network, navigate the modern job search, and update your resume. Duration: 30 minutes
• Social Security: You Earned it
  Social Security has been a stable and popular program since its inception. But the program faces a long-term financial shortfall. If Congress doesn't take action in the next 10 years to protect Social Security, benefits could be cut. In this presentation, We'll review the most common proposals to ensure that Social Security can pay for the full benefits Americans have earned. Duration: 30 minutes

TECHNOLOGY
These presentations will showcase internet-based websites or tools. Please ensure that your meeting location has unrestricted internet access and a projector or large screen TV available for speaker use.

• AI & Disinformation: Disinformation refers to false information created to mislead people, and it’s nothing new. But today’s AI-powered tools and social media have made it easier and faster to create and spread disinformation. In this lecture, we’ll explore how AI is used to create convincing deepfakes and clone voices, making it challenging to distinguish between real and fake content. We’ll also review best practices for evaluating information and explore tech tools that can help identify content created with AI. Duration: 45 min.
• AI All Around: If it seems like AI is showing up everywhere, it’s not just you! From searching the web to attending a Zoom meeting, AI tools are now available to help with most online tasks. In this lecture, we’ll explore many of the digital platforms and websites generative AI is now available. We’ll discuss how the tools try to make tasks easier and go over privacy considerations to keep in mind when using them. Duration: 45 min.
• Digital Tools for Brain Health: Stay sharp with technology! In this lecture, we’ll explore digital tools to support habits that can help you stay sharp, including wearable devices, engaging websites, and informative podcasts. Discover practical resources to keep your mind active and enhance your cognitive well-being in today’s digital world. Duration: 45 min.
• Everyday Uses of AI: Everyone is talking about AI. Come to this class to be a part of the conversation! This lecture will show you the ways AI is already present in everyday tasks and how it is used in everything from voice assistants to customer service and healthcare. We’ll look at common applications of AI across multiple industries and discuss ways you too can take advantage of this influential technology. Duration: 45 min.
• Getting to Know Your Smartphone: Don't let your smartphone's settings stump you! Learn the basics in this workshop. During this hands-on workshop, we'll explore some of the common features of smartphones. You'll learn ways to interact with the touch screen, how to access important controls, and how to search for specific settings, including securing your phone. We'll also go over useful built-in voice assistant and accessibility features. This workshop will cover both iPhones and Android phones. You'll receive a step-by-step handout covering basic features to take home with you. Duration: 45 min.
• Getting to Know Your Smartphone Security and Privacy: During this informative, hands-on session, we'll explore essential practices to keep your smartphone usage safe. You'll learn about effective password management, how to identify and avoid phishing and smishing attacks, and ways to filter unwanted calls and texts. We'll also cover online privacy basics and how to manage app tracking. This workshop will provide practical tips and step-by-step guidance to enhance your mobile security and privacy for both iPhones and Android phones. You'll receive a step-by-step handout covering basic features to take home with you. Duration: 45 min.
• Healthcare & Tech at a Glance: Curious how recent technological advances have changed healthcare? In this lecture, we’ll explore how doctors are using cutting-edge tech, like AI and smart devices, to diagnose, monitor, and treat medical conditions. We’ll also discuss how patients can use technology to manage and improve their health. We’ll cover how to prepare for and what to expect from telehealth appointments, common healthcare wearables, and best practices for using AI for medical information. Duration: 45 min.
• Introduction to A.I. Curious about A.I.? Want to know more about Chat GPT? This lecture will introduce some of the basic ideas around artificial intelligence. We’ll talk about how A.I. is being used today, what its current limitations are, and how it will shape the future! Duration: 45 min.
• Introduction to Chatting with AI: Curious about using ChatGPT or Gemini but not sure where to start? In this lecture, we’ll explore tips for using generative AI chat programs so you can make them work for you. You’ll learn how to write questions, or prompts, that are specific and effective at getting helpful responses. Whether you plan to use them at work, for personal projects, or just for fun, we’ll show you how this tech can help you with all sorts of tasks. We’ll also cover best practices for privacy and security so you can be a confident user. Duration: 45 min.
• Introduction to Digital Wallets: What item can you not leave home without? If you said your phone, this lecture is for you! If you said your wallet, you should probably come too! The digital wallets on our smartphones allow us to go about our daily lives without ever needing to pull out our actual wallets. In this presentation, we’ll review the basic features of the most popular digital wallets: Apple Wallet and Google Wallet and talk about their many uses beyond purchases. We’ll also discuss features/considerations for security and privacy. Duration: 45 min.
• Introduction to Managing Your Privacy: Concerned about privacy? Unsure about accepting cookies? Come learn about some essential privacy tips! In this introductory lecture, we’ll review how ads target us online, how to limit tracking, where to find browser settings and extensions to better control how our information is shared. We’ll also discuss some of the key features of password managers and why they’re a safe and secure option. Duration: 45 min.
• Navigating Medicare Resources Online: Medicare is a complex topic, but there are online resources to help! In this lecture, we’ll discuss ways to find information about Medicare online. We’ll explore medicare.gov and an example private insurance website to learn about the tools and resources they offer. You’ll learn how to navigate these websites confidently to find what you need, including using the search bar and Chat features. We’ll also introduce the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or shiphelp.org, which is a great resource for getting trusted 1:1 guidance on Medicare. Duration: 45 min.
• Passwords, Passkeys, and More: Protecting your online accounts starts with strong password practices. In this lecture, we’ll review password basics before exploring options like single sign-on, passkeys, multi-factor authentication, and password managers. Learn why these password alternatives are safe ways to simplify your digital life and keep your personal information secure. Duration: 45 min.
• Streaming & Smart TVs: Every day, more and more people are “cutting the cord” and canceling their cable subscriptions. Instead, they’re using free or low-cost streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu to watch their favorite shows and movies online. This presentation will introduce streaming: what it is, how to use it, and the variety of content available. You’ll also learn how to watch live TV without cable and how smart TVs and streaming devices can let you watch videos from the Internet on your television. Duration: 45 min.
• Tech Basics for Caregiving: Caregiving is challenging in different ways for both the caregivers and the recipients of care. Thankfully, there are a variety of tech tools that can make caregiving easier for both and allow people to do more on their own. In this lecture, we’ll explore ways to integrate technology into your daily routine: from scheduling reminders with your phone or home assistant, to accessing self-care resources and making the most of telehealth appointments. We’ll also explore options for ordering and receiving essential items like groceries and prescription drugs from the comfort of your home. Duration: 45 min.
• Technology for Aging in Place: In this lecture, you’ll learn how home assistants, smart appliances, and wearables can save you time and money, help you manage health conditions, and even give you greater peace of mind. We’ll also discuss best practices for maintaining your privacy and security when using this technology. Duration: 45 min.
• Tips for Being News Savvy Online: Sharing the news with others? In the digital age, anyone can publish anything on the internet, even if it's completely false. This lecture will explain the way technology has made it easier to create and spread misinformation. We'll discuss tools to evaluate news sources and review helpful fact-checking sites. You'll learn why it's important to read and check your sources before sharing! Duration: 45 min.
• Understanding Fraud and Scams: The ability to spot a scam is an essential digital skill. In this lecture, we’ll review some of the most common scams, offer tips for avoiding them, and go over what to do if you do get scammed. We’ll look at sample emails, texts, and deepfakes to see how AI contributes to the increased spread and complexity of scams. We’ll also provide helpful resources for staying informed about the latest scams. Duration: 30 minutes
• Virtual Museum Tours: Tour world famous museums from the comfort of your home! Did you know many of the world's leading museums have been making their collections and exhibits available to view virtually? In this lecture we'll explore some of these virtual galleries, as well as digital tools that help bring art, architecture, and history to life! Duration: 45 min.
• Wearables at a Glance: From fitness trackers to smart glasses, wearable technology is here to stay! Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a tech newbie, there’s something for everyone. Come to this lecture to learn about the health, wellness, and personal safety benefits of wearable technology. Duration: 45 min.

Request a speaker today! If your group is ready for an engaging and motivating discussion from local AARP New Jersey volunteers, please fill out this form.

Interested in Joining the AARP New Jersey Speakers Bureau? Whether you enjoy being in front of an audience, have marketing skills or simply like to help coordinate our speaking engagements behind the scenes, the AARP NJ Speakers Bureau has a spot for you. Consider volunteering today!