Seminar increases digital literacy, multigenerational interaction and socialization among older adults
Recently, Longwood at Oakmont, a Presbyterian SeniorCare Continuing Care Retirement Community in Plum, Pa., hosted a hands-on technology workshop with Senior TechRALLY™(www.seniortechrally.com), a mobile experiential program sponsored by AT&T. Approximately 60 seniors from the greater Pittsburgh area attended the standing-room only event to learn how to stay connected with friends and family through the use of social applications and wireless devices such as smartphones and tablets.
“According to a recent Pew Research study, 53 percent of American adults ages 65 and older use the internet and email. A third of those seniors are engaged in social networking sites,” states Michael Haye, Executive Director of Longwood at Oakmont. “As a community committed to continuing education and personal growth, we recognized a growing desire among older adults to learn these new technologies, and partnered with Senior TechRALLY and AT&T to provide the greater Pittsburgh area with this cutting-edge program.”
During the interactive event, attendees were seated at work stations of approximately 10 people where Senior TechRALLY representatives provided hands-on instruction. Throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, attendees learned how to navigate smartphones, specifically the Pantech Flex™, and tablets.
For the smartphone workshop, seniors were taught how to access applications, utilize the smartphone’s touchscreen capability and craft text messages by utilizing the ‘predictive text’ feature. During the tablet workshop, Senior TechRALLY representatives educated attendees on downloading e-books and music, connecting with loved ones via Skype, and increased their digital news literacy by demonstrating how to access top news applications such as USAToday and Pulse.
“In alliance with AT&T’s Reconnect Tour, Senior TechRALLY provides senior living communities the tools to educate and help seniors nationwide connect with family members and friends more frequently, and enhance their knowledge of the Internet and wireless devices to increase socialization,” states Philip Jordan, Executive Director of Senior TechRALLY. “Additionally, by partnering with senior living communities, like Longwood at Oakmont, Senior TechRALLY is able to increase computer usage amongst seniors which has been proven to decrease depression and the sense of loneliness.”
About Longwood at Oakmont
Longwood at Oakmont, a Presbyterian SeniorCare affiliate, is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) dedicated to enriching the lives of its residents by providing a full range of quality services and health care which promote individual dignity, security, wellness and independence. A LifeCare community, Longwood at Oakmont is accredited by CARF-CCAC and is designed to address the physical, spiritual, and emotional well being of older adults. For more information, please visit www.longwoodatoakmont.com.
