NEW YORK (PRWEB)
August 17, 2021

As senior centers open across New York City, “It’s not quite a return to business as usual,” notes PSS Executive Director Rimas Jasin. When COVID-19 ended face-to-face activity at its residences and centers, PSS pivoted, meeting its more than 5,000 constituents online and on-screen. That switch revealed a chasm in digital access and expertise and demanded a response.

Take Sarah Caliman, for example. In early March, 2020, Sarah was a regular at the PSS Jackson Center in the Bronx, visiting two or three days a week. Exercise class one day, “Subject of the Day” debates and computer sessions on others—as well as time for the treadmill kept her coming. By mid-March, the COVID shutdown put an end to all of it. Lunch was grab and go, classes were disbanded—then resumed online. Despite her ease on her desktop at home, she used it mostly to draft newsletter articles, reports, meeting minutes and other documents for a wide range of organizations. Her flip phone wasn’t equipped for email or Zoom, which had become the “go-to” platform for meetings and social sessions. And as a caregiver for her brother in Queens, all his doctor’s appointments switched online.

Enter Gabriella, a bilingual tech trainer PSS brought in to coach seniors on the potential of their devices. Fast forward: With Gabriella’s help, today, Sarah’s mastered Zoom, establishing her own account. She’s virtually attended meetings for all her committees and cultural groups, and has been able to arrange tele-health sessions for her brother. And, for those in her community lost to COVID, she has been able to attend virtual funeral services.

While pleased that Jackson and other Centers are now opening across the City, “I’ll continue to involve technology in my life,” she says. “My goal is to become better –learn all the tricks of the trade—and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to attend classes that help me do just that.”

“Sarah is just one of the many seniors who benefited from our ramp-up to provide digital skills and materials to our constituents,” said PSS Executive Director Rimas Jasin. “Early on in the crisis, when it became clear that internet connectivity was key to our continued service, we surveyed the entire group to determine not only what devices they had at their disposal, but just how connected they were able to be. Today, we’re actively planning how best to accommodate a transition to digital on many fronts in our seniors’ world.”

PSS operates ten Senior Centers in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan and two residences, one in the Bronx and one in Queens. Users of these services made up 61 percent of its 845 survey respondees. More than half were 71 or older. The survey showed a strong correlation between income and tech usage/availability:

• Senior Center members, in primarily lower-income areas like the South Bronx, had the least sophisticated technology and access to WiFi, the fewest devices and the hardest time navigating.
• Most had smart phones, but used them primarily for calls and texts. About five percent have no personal technology or use a landline phone.
• Fewer than half of PSS’ senior center clients enjoy reliable internet access.
• Just 45 percent of center members and residence tenants have WiFi—55 percent rely on their cell plans, public WiFi or friends and family.
• In the Bronx and Upper Manhattan, more people connected to the internet using cell data plans—or not at all.
• While 2/3 said they could operate their device, more than 1/3 said they were uncomfortable trying anything new.

“The survey clarified what we had suspected—a great skills, access and comfort deficit among our seniors,” said Jasin. In response, PSS launched a two-pronged plan to drive and increase tech knowledge and actual digital use:

1/ With the help of a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, they brought in the bilingual technical trainer who helped Sarah, working one-on-one with center members to understand exactly how much their phones and other devices could do. (At some centers located in NYCHA housing, the Association distributed tablets to those with no devices.) “Our trainer was key in getting our seniors to trust both the technology and their ability to use it,” notes Jasin.

2/ PSS also created partnerships with two organizations providing tools, training and tech support to older adults:

• NYC-based Candoo Tech gave PSS seniors one-to-one support or group training in cell phone, tablets and PC/Macs and provided digital and print guides for Center and residence members.
• GetSetUp, a national learning portal where seniors teach their peers, offered a variety of classes ranging from using email, video meetings and online services, to travel, crafts/hobbies and social hours.

“It’s a good beginning, but we’ve got our work cut out for us going forward to get our constituents to fully embrace technology,” said Jasin. “For starters, we need to increase our focus on better serving our Spanish-speaking population. And we know our seniors will have to adapt to using tech differently—in order to see family and friends outside of New York more often, using WhatsApp for example. And some of our support groups may be held both in person and online—to allow for more people to take advantage of the service. So Candoo and GetSetUp continue to be on speed-dial as we move forward to create our new normal.”

About PSS: Founded in 1962 as Presbyterian Senior Services by volunteers to serve older members of their church community, today, PSS is a multi-service nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency whose mission is to strengthen the capacity of older New Yorkers, their families, and communities to thrive. PSS has more than 60 staff and 210 committed volunteers and interns. Operating with a $6+ million annual budget, the organization runs ten community centers for older adults, family caregiver and kinship family support programs through PSS Circle of Care, three residences – including the first one purposefully built for grandparents raising children – and Coming of Age, NYC’s popular educational programs that inspire adults 50+ to live with passion and purpose. Website: pssusa.org

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