Mayor Adams Announces Distribution of Tablets to Older New Yorkers
Channel: NYC Mayor's Office
Date: 2022-05-27

MAYOR ADAMS, DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING DISTRIBUTE 1,000 FREE COMPUTER TABLETS TO OLDER ASIAN NEW YORKERS TO CLOSE OUT  AAPI HERITAGE MONTH AND OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

Mayor Adams Works to Close Digital Divide for Older Adults With No Internet Service or Digital Equipment

11,000 Tablets Now Distributed to Connect Older Adults to Additional City Services

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced the distribution of an additional 1,000 free wi-fi equipped mobile tablets to older New Yorkers in an effort to bridge the digital divide and help connect them with city services. To close out Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Older Americans Month, today’s tablet distribution was held at the Benjamin Rosenthal Innovative Senior Center in Flushing, Queens, which services a large Asian American community, and is part of a program that has now distributed 11,000 tablets to seniors across New York City, approximately 3,700 of which have been distributed since Mayor Adams took office in January. 

The tablets being distributed today will help keep older adults connected and engaged, helping to reduce social isolation. In addition to having free wi-fi service until December 31st, the tablets come installed with Zoom, Gmail, and the NYC COVID Safe app, allowing residents to access DFTA and other city resources. Older adults will also be provided with free training on their new tablets at local senior centers and learn how to connect to DFTA virtual programs. During the distribution event, DFTA referred tablet recipients to the nearest senior center that is offering training on using the tablets.


Today’s distribution of computer tablets was the last scheduled distribution as part of the free tablet initiative DFTA started in the fall of October 2021. The tablet distribution program’s goal has been to bridge the digital divide for older New Yorkers, who do not have an internet-enabled electronic device. 

During the city’s lockdown due to COVID-19, older adult center services transitioned to virtual programming and over-the-phone services. Virtual programming allowed about 40,000 older adults to access important services and programs safely from their home. Providing older New Yorkers with the technological equipment they need will build on the success of virtual programming and help make it available to even more older adults.

In addition to keeping older adults engaged and digitally connected, the distribution initiative also achieves one of the goals outlined in DFTA’s Community Care Plan — a five-year plan to expand aging support services and help older adults age in their homes and avoid institutionalization. The Community Care Plan builds upon the success and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the expansion of virtual services that kept many older adults active and engaged while they were staying home to avoid contracting COVID-19.



Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Innovative Senior Center – Parking Lot
45-35 Kissena Boulevard
Flushing, NY 11355

May 27, 2022