NYCHA Seniors Become Technology Pros
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but for older adults the isolation and disconnection from services, family, and friends caused by social distancing may be especially impactful.
To help alleviate the isolation, the City invested $5 million to provide 10,000 NYCHA seniors with free, internet-connected T-Mobile tablets so they can digitally connect with family and friends. Many of these seniors had never used tablets, computers, or the internet before.
That’s where OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) stepped in. OATS was selected to teach seniors how to use their tablets because, since 2004, the organization has been helping older adults learn how to use technology so that they can participate in the digital world. Partnering with the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (MOCTO), Department for the Aging (DFTA), and NYCHA, OATS, through its flagship program, Senior Planet, created a new course, “Android Essentials,” specifically for the NYCHA seniors.
During the five-week course, participants learned how to send and receive emails, safely search the internet, download and use apps, take photos, and use Zoom for video calls. OATS held six sessions of the class, including one in Spanish; 89 NYCHA seniors participated in the first class. In addition to the five-week course, OATS also held one-day workshops that 798 seniors participated in, including “Getting to Know Your Tablet,” “Intro to Zoom,” “Intro to Spotify,” and “Morning Stretch.”
The first seniors to complete the class were celebrated at a virtual Zoom graduation on August 27. Many of the graduates shared about how they have reconnected with loved ones thanks to the class. Others are online shopping, watching City Council hearings, and taking virtual classes for the first time in their lives.
“When I started this class, I wasn’t sure how to do very much,” said Beverly, 68, of Wagner Houses. “I was always nervous that I was going to go some place and not be able to get back to my home page. I didn’t even know how to get the tablet working. I am just so excited over how much I’ve learned over five weeks. I’ve done a few exercise classes, I’ve learned how to use YouTube (which I never went on before). Now I’m more connected with my granddaughter and daughter.”
Like many of the seniors, Glenwood Houses resident Margorie, 76, was thankful to be able to take the class. “This is my first experience using technology,” she said. “I don’t have a computer, this is my first time using a tablet. I’m on WhatsApp and I can see my relatives in Jamaica, I go on my church services online, and I see my grandchildren. Thanks to everybody that made this possible for us.”
A common share from the participants was about how their younger family members tried to teach them to use technology in the past and became too frustrated to continue the lessons. OATS instructors are skilled at practicing patience with seniors, said Irene, 79, of Tilden Houses: “I used to call my grandson and he would say, ‘Grandma, I told you how to do that yesterday.’ He would get annoyed. My teachers with OATS were so patient; no matter how many times you ask them over and over, they were so patient with the big smile and said, ‘Ok, let’s go over this again.’ Now my grandson asks me how I know how to do all these things; he was surprised.”
In addition to the participants, attendees of the virtual celebration included representatives from the MOCTO, DFTA, NYCHA, and the OATS founder, trainers, and volunteers.
Thomas Kamber, Founder and Executive Director of OATS, said it took a lot of partnership to make this program successful, “but it’s worth it because people are learning to use technology to work better – so if folks out there are reconnecting with friends and feeling like you’re more socially engaged, that’s what it’s all about. If you’re able to get access to health care information or learn about the census, learn about what’s going on with the election, be active, and have your voices heard, that’s what this is about. It’s really not about the technology, but about what you do with it.”
Ukah Busgith, NYCHA’s Senior Director of Family Partnerships, congratulated the graduates and said: “I was there from the beginning when we started distributing the tablets, so to see the work and the growth in the seniors is so amazing. Thanks to OATS, DFTA, and CTO for all the work you put into getting our seniors – NYCHA residents – involved in training and participating in this program. I look forward to getting flyers out to more seniors so we can hear more wonderful stories.”
OATS continues to provide Android Essentials to NYCHA seniors; another round of Android Essentials began directly after the first classes. NYCHA seniors who received free tablets and would like to sign up for a class or get help should call the Senior Planet Hotline: 1-929-356-2005. For more resources, visit seniorplanet.org/nycha. To learn more about OATS, visit oats.org.