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Tech Handy Helper Program Expands and ECHO Dots Go Statewide!
Sheldon Nightingale, of Age Friendly Saco, presents at an Echo Dot training in Madison.
Living in a world of technology can sometimes present as daunting, but Age Friendly Saco (AFS) has worked to show people the wonderful benefits technology can have for older adults. Technology can offer many benefits including: reducing social isolation, improving community engagement, and supporting changes in cognition and memory.
Living in a world of technology can sometimes present as daunting, but Age Friendly Saco (AFS) has worked to show people the wonderful benefits technology can have for older adults. Technology can offer many benefits including: reducing social isolation, improving community engagement, and supporting changes in cognition and memory.
AFS’s Tech Handy Helper program aims to lower anxiety that surrounds learning new tech skills and guides older adults in their technology journey. A member of the Tech Handy Helper team, Sheldon Nightingale shares how beneficial this journey is for both the volunteers and the participants, “Being able to help make the lives of older adults easier in any way we can is just so rewarding to me”.
The Tech Handy Helper program provides support to those in the community 55+ with basic tech assistance needs. This initiative is aimed to help older adults age in their homes comfortably and safely. Through this program items like Echo Dots, and Fire Sticks have been provided to community members. AFS has held a few Lunch and Learn opportunities for folks to come in, receive a device, and learn how to utilize it. Volunteers from the Tech Handy Helper program also work 1:1 with residents in their homes to install the technology. Echo Dots are a wonderful tool that can help with wake up calls, reminders about appointments, music and more. Imagine this: an older adult is living alone in their home, they slip and fall in the kitchen and their phone is plugged into the wall in the living room. Calling for help might seem impossible for this person, but by using voice commands the Echo Dot can call the local fire department for assistance.
Social isolation can be a real challenge for older adults. Sheldon describes how programs like this have benefitted those suffering from social isolation. The tech handy helper program was created just before the pandemic in 2019, and proved to be great timing as the program has helped individuals get involved in their community in a time where getting connected seemed impossible.
Sometimes technology can be stressful, frustrating and confusing. Helping people understand that there is help out there and it is safe to use is key to a successful Tech Helper program. Saco’s program is comprised of volunteers who have experience working collaboratively with community members with a good understanding of the technology. Under Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) funding, Age Friendly Saco has 20 Echo Dots to give out to the community and the team is currently developing their plans for how to equitably distribute these devices.
Echo Dots Go Statewide
Lifelong Maine and GWEP are partnering with Age-Friendly Saco to expand the ECHO Dot project statewide. This collaboration will train and equip age-friendly volunteers to implement similar initiatives in their communities.
This GWEP-funded pilot builds on Saco's experience installing over 100 devices and conducting multiple group training sessions in Saco and Biddeford. The program provides in-person training for 17 age-friendly communities across the state, teaching volunteers how to install and program assistive technologies like Echo Dots, smart plugs, and light bulbs. Following the training, each community will be equipped to provide these smart devices to 15-20 older households. Additionally, GWEP has developed materials promoting digital equity that are distributed to device recipients.
If your community is interested in being one our pilot sights for the Echo Dot Program please email lifelong@maine.edu.
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