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Our foundation helps older adults with $10 million grant
Technology that can seem intuitive to some people can be downright confounding to others, especially those who aren’t exposed to it regularly or who can’t afford equipment or access. But there’s a way for older Americans to boost their tech skills as they explore new job opportunities.
The Digital Skills Ready@50+ initiative is operated by AARP Foundation, courtesy of a $10 million grant from Google.org, the charitable arm of the giant technology company. The initiative helps people learn how to navigate today’s tech-focused world, with lessons on everything from conducting an online job search to recognizing some of the privacy dangers. The program aims to train 25,000 people 50 and older who have low incomes, particularly focusing on women and people of color.
“The goal of this program is to get them on the pathway to getting a job or thinking about entrepreneurship,” says Mindy Feldbaum, AARP’s vice president of workforce programs.
The project is in collaboration with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), an AARP charitable affiliate and operator of the Senior Planet education program.
Though some classes are available online, the Digital Skills Ready@50+ program is aimed at in-person lessons. Eight states—Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas—offer live training programs, where people can get hands-on guidance from one of nearly 125 trained experts. The in-person training takes place in a variety of formats, depending on the class you choose: 60-minute lectures, 90-minute workshops and multisession series that last several weeks. Nearly 15,000 people have taken a class.
There is a pressing need for continuing tech education among older Americans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of older adults experienced financial hardship as they lost jobs or income while demand for digital skills in the labor market accelerated.
By offering vulnerable older adults training in skills that are in demand, AARP Foundation and OATS hope to bridge the digital divide that older, lower-income adults face and help them work toward economic security. Older workers who possess more digital skills have significantly more earning power than those who are less tech savvy, according to a study from the Urban Institute.
Those taking the classes can learn how to protect personal information online, use cloud storage, get comfortable with Google’s work tools (such as Google Sheets, Google Docs and Google Slides) and use the Zoom videoconferencing app to chat with friends and family.
“A lot of participants are thinking about how they can use the skills at home and work,” Feldbaum says. “In today’s world, digital skills are necessary for everything we do, so being able to provide these basic foundational skills will have an impact.”
To find out more and sign up for classes, go to my.aarpfoundation.org/digitalskillsready.
AARP FITNESS HUB
At AARP, we know that staying fit is one of the pillars of healthy living, and we want to help guide you on your fitness journey.
Visit aarp.org/stayfit, our new, comprehensive resource for all things fitness, including exercise videos, tips, gear guides, free webinars and member-discounted subscriptions, all designed for the 50-plus community. Whether you’ve only got 10 minutes to break a sweat or you’re looking for personal training, we have you covered.
Work on your abs and tone your core with a new series from fitness pioneer and best-selling author Denise Austin, or select from comprehensive workouts featuring yoga, strength training, cardio, walking and more. Also, learn how to calculate your body mass index, find out the number one exercise to do as you get older and get answers to important questions such as “Does Medicare provide free gym memberships?” Enjoy your workout!