Funds will support project that aims to reduce social isolation among older adults

February 3, 2020: People Inc. is proud to announce that it has been awarded $13,900 from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York. The funds will support “Ready, Set, Click and Learn,” a project that aims to reduce social isolation among older adults by increasing their use of technology to become socially and emotionally connected to friends and family. 

Through an interactive five-week program, older adults, will learn how to safely connect with loved ones and access information through video chat, Google search, electronic calendaring and social media outlets such as Facebook. Sessions will be taught by an instructor, with mentoring provided by volunteer students from the D’Youville College Occupational Therapy Program. They will take place at People Inc. Sunflower Senior Living in Lackawanna, NY, and the Akron Newstead Senior Center in Akron, NY.

“We are so thankful to the Health Foundation for making these sessions possible,” said Concetta Ferguson, senior vice president, People Inc. “Many older adults experience social isolation and do not have the tools to stay connected with loved ones and friends. Through ‘Ready, Set, Click and Learn,’ we look forward to providing people with these interactive resources.”

The Health Foundation is an independent private foundation that advocates for continuous improvement in health and health care by investing in the people and organizations that serve young children and older adults.

People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 10,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special needs, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted people to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.