Montclair Group Gets $90K State Grant for Senior Tech Training
Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place (mGAP), an advocacy and service organization dedicated to empowering older adults, received a $90,000 state grant Tuesday, the organization announced.
New Jersey Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill announced the grant, which will go toward the mGAP’s SmartSeniors SmartTech program, which helps older adults develop digital skills, said mGAP Vice President Ann Lippell.
mGAP initiated the program in 2020 and it has since reached nearly 1,000 older adults, according to the organization. Most recently, the program conducted a smartwatch training program that showed seniors how to use smartwatches to connect with emergency services.
The state grant will allow mGAP to purchase new technology for the program, including smartphones, as well as go towards the creation of a digital inclusion lab, where peer-group volunteers can demonstrate smart home technology.
Essential Skills
“It’s empowering people by making them comfortable with the skills they need,” Lippell said.
The training is especially important due to the prevalence of telehealth, said Lippell.
Part of what is unique about mGAP’s SmartTech program is that training is led by peer-group volunteers, said president Ellie Bagli, meaning that those leading the training are of a similar age range to those being trained.
This is especially helpful for older adults who need to learn at their own pace and are often met with frustration or impatience when learning from children or grandchildren, said Bagli.
mGAP was previously awarded an AARP Community Challenge Flagship $20K grant to support its digital navigation program including access digital communication, assistive technology and emergency alerts.