SilverSource, the nonprofit agency providing services and resources for older adults in need in the Stamford area, has received a $50,000 grant from the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging (SWCAA) for a special project to train seniors how to access online resources.
The SilverSource Digital Education Access Project is a direct response to the “connectivity crisis” for older adults underscored by the pandemic. The health emergency has brought into stark focus the fact that 40% of older adults in the U.S. – unable to go in person to the doctor, other providers, grocery stores or pharmacies, or to socialize with family or friends – were not able to access online services while they needed to stay home to stay safe.
“The reality is that accessing the internet is no longer recreation, but rather a vital lifeline for all citizens,” said SilverSource CEO Kathleen Bordelon. “By connecting with the internet, older residents can better participate in basic everyday activities — from shopping and communicating with loved ones, to managing personal health and finances, all while learning practical cyber safety protocols. As a community and as a society, we have a responsibility to create equity for the underserved, including finding technology solutions for low-income seniors in the digital age.”
With the SWCAA funding, the SilverSource Digital Education Access Project has enhanced the broadband internet access at Willard Manor, supplied 30 older residents of Stamford with Chromebooks and engaged a digital navigator to train the participants to log onto the internet and access helpful online resources. A small group of residents will also receive the training in Spanish. The project will not only advance the health and well-being of older residents, but also support aging in place and reduce isolation.
Learn more: www.SilverSource.org.
