SAN ANTONIO – The COVID-19 pandemic confirmed us how necessary know-how is, however older adults who don’t know use it grew to become remoted.
That’s why greater than 100 senior residents obtained a free iPad from the College of Texas at San Antonio and the coaching to make use of it.
The iPad recipients additionally took a five-week know-how coaching course the place they discovered to ship emails, make Zoom calls and entry assets on the web.
The programming was facilitated by means of an unique partnership between UTSA, Older Adults Know-how Companies and the San Antonio Senior Facilities.
At the very least six senior facilities participated within the grant-funded programs. Through the lessons, seniors have been taught to make use of an iPad and on the finish of the course have been in a position to preserve it.
They discovered make Zoom calls, discovered use electronic mail, and explored Google purposes and YouTube.
“The world is altering so fast — you already know, we get left behind. But when we had the chance to study and we loved it,” Manuel Palacios, who accomplished the programs, mentioned.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated over 5,000 individuals misplaced no less than $100,000 in on-line scams in 2022.
Tech and Buyer Assist schemes continued to be the commonest sort of fraud reported, with 17,800 complaints filed by victims over 60.
“You turn out to be a sufferer of crime since you’re remoted. You may’t entry your cash. You sort of don’t know what’s happening, bunch of detrimental outcomes,” mentioned Darryl Greer with OATS.
Whereas many companies and members of the family have been connecting by means of Zoom and Facetime, seniors grew extra remoted.
Understanding know-how can have well being advantages as nicely, equivalent to receiving care by means of telemedicine.
“I’m a bit of bit smarter, and I discovered lots,” Palacios mentioned.
There will likely be one other know-how coaching course at six different senior facilities within the fall, however all 160 spots have already been accounted for.
OATS mentioned it might facilitate lessons without spending a dime anyplace seniors congregate.
Seniors can get know-how assist and assets by calling 210-504-4862.
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