A Year in Review: 2023

Pricey Mates,

At Older Adults Expertise Companies (OATS) from AARP, we’ve adopted a motto that sums up the lasting impression we envision our applications can have: Getting older with Angle. As we strategy our twentieth yr of progress and repair, I’m proud to report that our group is increasing with that very same vigor as nicely, and with an edge that has us tremendously enthusiastic about what’s forward.

Throughout these previous twelve months, as we’ve continued our evolution from a daring thought to a real nationwide motion, in 2023 OATS made important progress in influencing the perceptions of getting old and increasing our attain by way of high-end buyer experiences.

Highlights embrace:

• Earlier this month we opened a gleaming new Senior Planet center in Miami, which is our fourth such middle nationwide, and Miami’s first technology-themed group middle for older adults. Guests can get help with know-how and study new abilities in a spacious, fashionable middle filled with 72 screens, that includes state-of-the-art laptop gear and Wi-Fi – all freed from cost.
• By way of our flagship program Senior Planet, new and returning seniors participated in coaching alternatives over 465,000 instances this yr. What’s extra – we now supply lots of of courses in a number of languages together with English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.
• For individuals who can’t get to our flagship facilities, our on-line Senior Planet web site, seniorplanet.org, continues to develop, accessed by greater than 1.5 million customers per yr. Web site guests can discover live online classes, particular occasions, tech tip videos and resources, and over 200 authentic items of editorial content geared towards the older reader – which drove record-breaking engagements from readers, garnering over 1,300 feedback!
• In 2023, by way of our licensing program, we geared up and skilled 383 partner sites nationwide to ship free Senior Planet courses to older adults. We additionally started offering in-person applications in collaboration with AARP state places of work throughout the nation.
• In response to rising demand, we launched a head-spinning variety of new, top-of-the-line applications that centered on AI, catastrophe preparedness, reserving trip stays on-line, and extra!
• OATS was chosen as a Winner within the twenty ninth Annual Communicator Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Communications for the “(Em)Powered” video series that options 4 Senior Planet individuals from throughout the nation who describe how Senior Planet know-how coaching has enriched their lives by serving to them work, pursue inventive endeavors, and keep linked with family members.
• To help the rising want for entry and connection to low-cost web and coaching, OATS stays devoted to empowering older adults by way of digital inclusion. In a latest Philanthropy News Digest, OATS initiatives are credited as influencing the federal authorities’s launch of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which supplied discounted web service to low-income People.

In coordination with AARP State Places of work throughout the nation, our work round digital fairness, continues to assist older adults study low-cost web choices to get and keep on-line. As a result of we consider that they ought to be capable of keep linked to their family members as they age, we present a free dataal hotline, wright here they can discover the help and course they should get linked (1-888-713-3495).  

For almost 20 years, OATS has seen first-hand the transformative energy of older adults who proceed to study and develop on this more and more technological world. This yr we continued our legacy of supporting older adults from all around the nation to find new methods to thrive and join. It’s actually an honor to be a part of these tales.

Lastly, I hope you possibly can take a second and donate to assist OATS improve our impression. All of our direct, Senior Planet applications are delivered freed from cost. We merely can’t succeed with out you, and we put each greenback to good use.

All of us at OATS are trying ahead to a different thrilling yr to return. Right here’s to a wholesome, safe, and linked new yr!

Warmest regards,

Tom Kamber

Govt Director,
Older Adults Expertise Companies (OATS) from AARP

Tom Kamber is the chief director of Older Adults Expertise Companies (OATS) and Senior Planet from AARP.  He’s a number one skilled on getting old and know-how and is usually featured in nationwide media.