The following is a recap of a presentation by Marcus Flores, Executive Director at Parkville Living Center, Rachel Ohlhausen, Director Of Program Operations at Jewish Family Services, Jessica Welch, Program Manager at Phoenix Family Housing, and Carol Meyers, Digital Skills Trainer at KC Digital Drive given to the Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion on October 18th, 2024.
As the Kansas City metro’s population continues to age, ensuring access to technology and the internet for seniors has never been more urgent. A number of organizations across Kansas City have been working to integrate digital inclusion into their senior programming to help ensure this segment of our population is able to get and stay connected.
Jewish Family Services
Jewish Family Services (JFS) uses a three-pronged approach to support seniors: transportation, home maintenance, and social work. These services help seniors maintain independence and stay connected in their communities.
During the pandemic, JFS recognized a growing need for digital access among older adults and launched “Tech Connect,” a program designed to help seniors build digital literacy skills. Participants were provided with tablets and attended 10-week courses that covered the basics of internet usage, from creating email accounts to understanding how digital access can open doors to other services. Although the program had to sunset due to funding limitations, the initiative highlighted the importance of structured, hands-on training for older adults. JFS continues to provide assistance to seniors in setting up their devices and home Wi-Fi through their home maintenance program.
Phoenix Family
Phoenix Family provides onsite services for residents of low-income housing communities, including digital literacy training and access to devices in computer labs. Phoenix Family serves more than 5,000 residents at thirty-four sites across the metro, including twenty-two senior and disabled living communities where the average annual income is just $14,400.
Phoenix Family’s digital inclusion programs focus on helping seniors with everyday tasks such as paying bills online, accessing healthcare portals, signing up for Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and video calling family members. This support takes the form of both individual assistance and group programming. The organization also places a strong emphasis on helping seniors protect themselves from online scams and fraud—a significant concern for older adults learning to navigate the internet.
Parkville Living Center
Parkville Living Center was founded in 2020 during COVID as a way to provide referral services, original programs, and crisis intervention to Parkville residents. Their “Tech Connect” program offers two-hour classes twice a week, and prioritizes listening to the needs of seniors and addressing their concerns with a human-centered approach.
For many older adults, the challenge isn’t just learning how to use technology, but understanding the changing paradigms that come with it—like the difference between purchasing a physical product and subscribing to a digital service. The Parkville Living Center’s programs help seniors build confidence in using technology, while also recognizing that technology is just one tool among many that help foster connection and independence.
KC Digital Drive
KC Digital Drive operates a Digital Services & Support Center out of the LAMP campus, where digital skills instructor Carol Meyers teaches classes to primarily older, low-income adults who are often afraid of making mistakes when using technology. Class offerings include sessions on the Microsoft Office suite, smartphone use classes, and six-week digital literacy courses covering essential skills such as navigating the internet, using smartphones, and avoiding scams.
The Digital Services & Support Center also offers students the ability to try out and learn how to use different assistive technology tools that help individuals with visual or physical impairments use their devices. The Center also serves as a tech support center, allowing people with questions to receive guidance in using their phones or computers, setting up their internet, or doing things like paying rent online or applying for jobs.