3:00-4:00 p.m

6-E. Can Technology Foster Meaningful Relationships?

Social isolation puts many older adults at risk for declines in physical and mental well-being. In-person communication is the best antidote to this isolation, but it's not always available to those who need it most. That's why technology is playing an increasingly vital role in helping older adults connect with others. This session will describe how a Boston-based affordable housing provider and its community partner connected older housing residents with their peers while teaching them how to stay connected through technology. Presenters will share their experiences recruiting university students to teach technology skills to a diverse group of older adults. You'll gain strategies for creating programming that fosters socialization and community-building by helping older adults use technology with confidence.

• Anna Verbuk, Director of the Resident Technology Program, 2Life Communities — Brighton, MA, US
• Joesha Edmorin, Program Manager, LBFE Boston | Little Brothers -Friends of the Elderly — Boston, MA, USA
• Chisom Nnajiofor, Program Manager, LBFE Boston | Little Brothers -Friends of the Elderly — Boston, MA, USA