-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Thomas Kamber, Fighting Social Isolation: A View from the Trenches, Public Policy & Aging Report, Volume 27, Issue 4, 2017, Pages 149–151, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prx027
Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
It is a sad paradox that the technology revolution which has done so much to connect the world has in many ways been a source of increasing alienation and isolation for senior citizens. More than 25 years after the invention of the World Wide Web, one-third of Americans over the age of 65 report never using the Internet, and half lack a home broadband connection. This translates into more than 15 million older adults who can’t use email, follow a family member on Facebook, or search for local events online. Information and communications technologies are a lifeline for the socially disconnected, and programs that engage and train older adults in using these tools are on the front lines of efforts to overcome the epidemic of social isolation among senior citizens.
Founded in 2004, New York City–based nonprofit Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) has taught over 30,000 free technology classes to people over the age of 60, and in the process has experimented extensively with strategies to address social isolation, learning important lessons about program models, training methodology, and outcome measurement. This article is a brief summary of these lessons.
