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COVID-19 Senior Resources

Parks Division Recreation Division Senior Services Division

Senior resources for COVID-19 are below.
To find resources for Almeda Fire, go to ashland.or.us/ashlandresponse.

Adopt A Neighbor Ashland - free local help with errands like grocery shopping & delivery - sign up here
Senior Phone Buddy: to be matched to another senior "buddy" for check-ins and socializing by phone or video chat during this time of necessary "social distancing," call Ashland Senior Services at 541-488-5342 or email seniorinfo@ashland.or.us.
Community Resources: Up-to-date information on available local services (food, transportation, in-home assistance, social services, legal, financial, etc)
Emotional Support & Suicide Prevention Resources:
- Disaster Distress Helpline for emotional help to cope with a disaster: 1-800-985-5990 or TTY 1-800-846-8517 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
- Senior Loneliness Line: 503-200-1633 or 1-800-282-7035
- The Friendship Line (24-hour toll-free crisis & warmline for older and disabled adults and their caregivers): 1-800-971-0016
- See more
2020 Census: Census Taker Visits (August - October 2020) - click for more info
COVID-19 Info & News:
- CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Older Adults - Read more
- City of Ashland COVID-19 info & news - Read more
- City of Ashland COVID-19 response (utility & tax adjustments, business assistance, etc) - Read more
- Jackson County COVID-19 info & news - Read more
- Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 info & news - Read more
Masks & What You Need to Know! - Read more
- Where to buy face masks - Read more
Shopping:
- Grocery Stores - Senior Hours & Delivery
- Pharmacies - Delivery & Pick up
Laundry Services:
- Laundromats/cleaners - Delivery & Pick up
Restaurants, Farmers' Markets, other food sources:
- Restaurants open for delivery/take out (scroll down for list)
- Area Farmers Markets & Ashland Restaurants
- Recipes (for limited resources at home) - Search by ingredient(s), cooking time, etc
Tax information & Assistance:
- Free volunteer tax help hotline from CASH Oregon: website or call 503-966-7942
  - Your annual household income must be $69,000 or less to qualify
  - Computer and internet access needed
- Check status of your Economic Impact Payment (stimulus checks) - IRS "Get my payment"
- IRS Coronavirus Economic Impact Payments (stimulus checks) - Get your payment or file for payment if a non-tax filer
- AARP Tax-Aide canceled - Read More
- Tax filing & payment deadline extended to July 15 - Read More
- Automatic tax filing deadline extension to Oct 15 available - Read more
Transportation:
- Oregon DMV online services - Read more & access services
  - A law enforcement grace period on expired licenses and vehicle registration is in effect at least through Oct. 1, 2020.
- AARP Smart Driver (online only) - flyer with registration info and link for 25% discount
- Call-A-Ride service has resumed (8/25/20)
  - Existing clients or those wanting to sign up for this ride service, call 541-857-7783
- Ashland Connector service reduced, only operating Monday-Friday 9am-6pm (541-842-2055)
- Valley Lift services reduced, only operating Monday-Friday 6am-9pm & only for essential trips (541-842-2050)
- Other changes to RVTD bus & other services (reduced hours, days; route changes) - Read more
- RVTD requirement that all riders wear face masks - Read more
- Other services still operating:
  - RVTD Translink (Medicaid medical transportation): 541-842-2060
  - Ready Ride (Medicaid medical transportation): 541-479-7920
  - Mobile Care (medical transportation): 541-664-2114
  - AAA Eco Cab: 541-621-2100
  - Crater Lake Taxi: 541-488-1998
  - Five Star Taxi: 541-245-5555
  - Village Taxi: 541-951-0181
  - Lyft: download app for smartphone
  - Uber: download app for smartphone
Support if your income has changed due to COVID-19:
- United Way of Jackson County COVID-19 Fund (up to $1500 for assistance with hardship caused directly by COVID-19) - application form
- Double Up Food Bucks Oregon (if on SNAP, get up to $10 extra/day for purchasing fruits & veggies at participating farmers markets) - more info
- Pay What You Can Veggie Stand, 8/26, 9/30 & 10/28 in Medford - more info
- City of Ashland COVID-19 Utility Account Payment Deferral Program - instructions and application form
- Oregon Health Plan (OHP) - Read More & Apply
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - Read More & Apply
- Rental rights & assistance:
  - Southern Oregon Tenant-Landlord Rent Assistance Guide for COVID-19
  - COVID-19 Related Rental Relief Assistance
Medicare & Social Security
- SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance)
  - SHIBA website
  - call to schedule a phone appointment for one-on-one counseling about your health insurance and Medicare options: 541-488-5342
- The 2020 Annual Enrollment Period to sign up for Medicare (65+ years) or change make changes to your current plans(s) is Oct 15 -Dec 7.
- Assistance for Medicare costs (Parts B & D) - click for more info
- Medford Social Security Office still available to help by phone: 1-866-931-7943 (M-F 9am-4pm) - click for more info
Resources for Veterans:
- Veteran Resource Navigator (online tool to find federal, state and local resources for economic, health, education, housing & food, and other needs) - website or call 800-692-9666
Free/online classes & other social or learning resources:
- Programs connecting seniors remotely for social contact, by phone, video chat, or snail mail - click for more info
- Ashland Senior Services instructor Char Hersh is offering free outdoor Tai Chi classes, starting in August. Classes will be on the grounds of Ashland Christian Fellowship at 50 W Hersey Street. To get more information, contact Char directly at 541-552-0698.
- Free 8-week Fall Prevention Online Course for Older Adults with Ashland trainer Carlos Bracuto (starting mid-August 2020) - more info and registration info
- Free Providence Fall Prevention Workshop; Sept 16 (1-3pm), 22 (10am-12pm) or 24 (11am-1pm) - more info and registration info
- Free "Ask the Expert" Virtual Education Series (Zoom), July-September, hosted by Maple Ridge Senior Living - more info & link to register
- Alzheimer's Association Oregon Chapter, September online educational webinars - click for dates & to register
- Alzheimer's Association Oregon Chapter, September virtual caregiver support group meetings - click for dates & to register
- For exercise - Ashland YMCA
- Guided practices (movement, tapping, sounding, breathing) & audio resources for body-based well-being, by Senior Services Yoga instructor Charlotte Nuessle - scroll down on page for links
- Yoga with Adriene
- Jackson County Library Services (books, films, research, etc) - log in with library card or sign up for one electronically
- Oregon Shakespeare Festival digital platform O! - link to access digital content
- Vegetable gardening (Oregon State University) - sign up & start anytime
- Language classes - links for 48 languages; Duolingo
- Lifelong Learning Resources (compiled by OLLI at SOU)
Free online video conferencing programs/apps:
- Zoom - sign up
  - Learn how to join a Zoom call
  - Learn how to host a Zoom call
- Google Hangouts - sign up
- Skype - sign up
- WhatsApp - sign up

For information on our Senior Services Division please visit AshlandSeniorServices.org, call 541.488.5342 or email SeniorInfo@ashland.or.us.

For information on Ashland Parks and Recreation, please visit AshlandParksandRec.org, call 541.488.5340 or email ParksInfo@ashland.or.us.

For information on the City of Ashland, please visit ashland.or.us.