Addressing Social Isolation through 

Technology Solutions 

Administration for Community Living

June 26, 2020
Today’s Webinar

• Highlight how technology can be leveraged 

to increase social engagement, including 

specific hardware and software options 

• Identify resources for acquiring and 

distributing technology, as well as training 

mechanisms

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Upcoming Webinar

• Successfully Engaging Older Adults and 

Adults with Disabilities via Technology: 

Strategies and Best Practices 

• July 9 @ 1pm ET 

• Visit ACL.gov (Announcements section) to 

register

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Presenters

• Majd Alwan, LeadingAge 

• Cathy Bodine, University of Colorado, Denver 

• Scott Code, LeadingAge 

• Ryan Elza , AARP Foundation 

• Sandy Markwood, n4a 

• Liz Persaud , GA Tech Pass It On Center 

• Carolyn Phillips, GA Tech Pass It On Center

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MENTAL Health 

Innovation Challenge 

• Opportunity to develop a software platform 

that increases awareness of, access to, 

and use of social engagement technologies 

and programming to help curtail the impact 

of loneliness and social isolation 

• More info at Challenge.gov

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AARP Foundation Connect2Affect 

Workshop Welcome
Social isolation affects 

nearly 1 in 4 older adults. 
How can technology be used 

to address social isolation?
ACCESSING ESSENTIALS

EXERCISE & WELLNESS

NEWS

VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING

ENTERTAINMENT &

GAMES

CALLING & MESSAGING

INFORMATION &

RESOURCES

BOOKS

Online Communities &

Classes

List of ways technology can be used to address social isolation
Tips for getting and staying connected. 

We can all take steps to maintain and strengthen our ties to family and friends, expand our social circles, and 

involved in our communities — even during a pandemic that requires physical distancing to lessen disease spread.

1. Commit to contacting a friend or family member 

you haven’t been in touch with regularly. 

2. Schedule a time every day to call a friend. 

3. Get outside and walk to stay physically active 

and enjoy fresh air. 

4. Get involved in online group activities and 

trusted virtual communities – for example, 

groups that are organized around faith, fitness, 

movies, music, sports, or books . 

5. Check to see if your local senior center is 

offering virtual games or other activities online. 

6. Volunteer to deepen your sense of purpose. 

There are ways you can help from the safety of 

your home, like making calls, working on 

mailings, or fundraising. 

7. Stay connected to your neighbors! Meeting new 

people in your community is a great way to 

connect with people of all ages. 

8. Do something pleasant or soothing for yourself 

every day. Keeping a positive frame of mind 

helps us connect.
National Organizations and 

Resources

• AARP Foundation Connect2Affect: 

Connect2Affect.org

Learn more about social isolation and find 

resources and tools to help you stay 

connected. 

• AARP Community Connections: 

aarpcommunityconnections.org

Find or start a mutual aid group, get 

assistance, or connect with people in your 

community. 

• AARP Coronavirus Updates: 

aarp.org/coronavirus

All the latest updates on the coronavirus, 

including tips for older adults on avoiding 

social isolation. 

• Create the Good: createthegood.aarp.org

Links to local home/remote volunteer 

opportunities.
LeadingAge

Center for Aging Services 

Technologies (CAST)

Majd Alwan , LeadingAge 

Scott Code, LeadingAge
Types of Social Connectedness and Engagement Technology

• Social Connectedness Technologies: 

– Social Networks 

– Video Chat 

– Audio Chat 

– Picture Sharing 

– Photo Sharing 

– Text Chat 

– E-Mail

• Social Engagement Technologies: 

– Life Stories 

– Community Activity and Event 

Management 

– Exercises, Mental Exercises, and 

Games 

– Music 

– Facilitated Communications and 

Conversations 

– Companion App or Robot 

– Virtual Reality
Phone screenshots
Phone screenshots (continued)
Images of people receiving therapy
Image of man on stationary bicycle
Tele-Rehabilitation

MOVEMENT 

TRACKING

MOTIVATING 

GAMES

OUTCOMES 

DATA
Social Connectedness and Engagement 

Technology Tool

https://www.leadingage.org/social-connectedness-and-engagement-technology-tool
Accessibility Features

• Zoom font size and Contrast 

• Voice recognition: Dictation and Command, 

Voice 

• Screen Readers: Read pages aloud, echo 

command, instructions 

• Visual Cues instead of audio alerts

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Interactive Guide

http://www.leadingage.org/social-connectedness-and-engagementtechnology-interactive-guide
Product Selection Matrix
Online Selection Tool/Matrix 
Things to Consider When Selecting 

Technology Solutions

Pass It On Center & Tools for Life 

Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation 

College of Design 

Carolyn Phillips & Liz Persaud

June 26, 2020
Happy to Be Here with You!

Things to consider when 

selecting technology 

solutions

Carolyn Phillips, Director & PI, 

Pass It On Center 

How do I acquire and 

distribute technology?

Liz Persaud, Georgia Tech, 

Pass It On Center
5 Tips to Consider when Selecting 

Technology Solutions

1. Person-Centered Approach: The Individual, family/family of choice and Circle 

of Support are the most critical decision makers when selecting Technology and 

Assistive Technology (AT). Having the Individual as central to making the 

decision is a key to successful Tech/AT matching and helps promotes 

independence. 

2. Think “Team:” Use a Team approach to select Tech/AT. Team Members usually 

come from different disciplines. The Team members vary depending on the 

Individual’s functional skills, abilities and needs. The Team includes the 

Individual and can include, a family member or significant other, AT specialist 

from the AT Act Program, ADRC staff, rehabilitation specialists and/or 

occupational, physical and/or speech therapists, etc.. We are collectively brilliant 

and can find better Tech/AT solutions together. 

3. Focus on the Individual’s Functional Skills and Needs: Medical Model vs 

Social Model. Human Activity Assistive Technology (HAAT) Model (Cook & 

Hussey) "What does this person want or need to do that he/she/they currently 

cannot do?" From there the team can begin to look for ways to alter the 

environment and/or find the Tech/AT to assist the Individual. Check out the 

International Classification of Function (ICF) (WHO). Be a Problem Solver!
5 Tips to Consider when Selecting 

Technology Solutions (Continued)

4. Keep it Simple: What is the simplest, most efficient way to 

solve this problem? Consider Universal Design. Consider 

features and feature matching. Consider Apps. The best 

technology solution may be a no - tech/low tech solution. 

Consider maintenance, tech support, training and repair costs. 

What is built - in to devices he/she/they currently own? What 

devices are they carrying around in their pocket or purse? 

5. Try Before You Buy: Know Your AT Act Program! Informed 

Choice. It's common for users to successfully use a device in an 

insulated setting (when evaluating or learning about the device) 

and still be unable to use it in a real - world setting. Try it in the 

real world so the individual can be sure the device works for 

them! Many reputable vendors will allow you to rent or borrow a 

device and then apply the rental payments toward the purchase. 

Some vendors have a 30 - 60 day return policy on the device if it 

does not work for the individual. Give feedback to 

vendors/manufacturers to help improve the Tech/AT. 
How do I acquire and distribute 

technology?
Contact Your Statewide AT Program

Visit AT3 Center to find your 

statewide AT Act Program and learn 

about accessing AT, direct services 

such as equipment demonstrations, 

training, funding education, and 

more. 

www.at3center.net/stateprogram
Find Your Local AT Reuse Program

Finding your local AT Reuse 

Program is a cost - effective way to 

access AT and DME. 

Visit the Pass It On Center website 

to find your local Reuse Program 

and other helpful resources on AT 

Reuse https://pioc.gatech.edu/pioc/
Contact Your Local Center for 

Independent Living (CIL)

Independent living and assistive 

technology can create great success in 

someone's life ! 

Contact your local CIL to not only learn 

about independent living solutions and 

strategies, but how AT can play a major 

role in this person - centered approach . 

• https://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-net/cilcenter-and-association-directory

• https://ncil.org/
Don’t Forget about Apps as AT

• Tools for Life AppFinder Updates 

• Two new categories have been added 

to the AppFinder 

• Social Distancing 

• Teleworking 

• Chrome Extensions have been added 

under Device Types
Thank you!

We appreciate your time!
Tools for Life Team

Carolyn Phillips

Director, Tools for Life

carolyn.phillips@gatfl.gatech.edu

Liz Persaud

Program and Outreach Manager

liz.persaud@gatfl.gatech.edu

Martha Rust

AT Access Team Manager

martha.rust@gatfl.gatech.edu

Danny Housley

AT Acquisition Manager

danny.housley@gatfl.gatech.edu

Gina Gelinas

Educational Outreach Manager

ggelinas3@gatech.edu

Rachel Wilson

AT Specialist

rachel.wilson@gatfl.gatech.edu

Sam Peters

Program Specialist

speters37@gatech.edu

Sarah Endicott

Research Specialist

sarah.endicott@design.gatech.edu

Tori Hughes Holder

Outreach Specialist

tori.holder@gatfl.gatech.edu

Ciara Montes

AT Specialist

ciara.montes@gatfl.gatech.ed

u

Annabel Joyner

AT Lab Specialist

ajoyner8@gatech.edu

DeeDee Bunn

Speech-Language Pathologist

dbunn6@gatech.edu

Ben Satterfield

Research Associate

rsatterfield8@gatech.edu

Sal Kibler

AT Services Intern

mkibler3@gatech.edu
Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Programs Need 

Technological Solutions to Social Isolation 

• 86 % are looking to support clients who have limited/no tech 

access 

• 83% are looking for technological solutions to address social 

isolation 

• 47% looking to provide direct assistance on telehealth to 

clients
AAAs and Title VI Programs 

Positioned to Support Technological 

Solutions

• “Our primary focus now is addressing social isolation. We are using 

CARES funds to GrandPads for caregivers and Title IIIB for case 

management and exploring their use for nutrition ed and 

counseling and elder abuse.” 

• “We are using technology such as FaceTime and telemedicine to 

ensure clients can keep medical appointments. Staff bring our 

technology and WiFi to clients’ homes to accomplish this, as most 

don’t have smart phones or computers.” 

• “The AAAs in our State are using Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment 

funds to provide tablets to enable nursing home residents to 

connect with family members.”
Training to use 

technology, software 

and apps.

Cathy Bodine PhD, CCC - SLP 

Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado
Knowing the 

type of 

training you 

need, helps 

determine 

where to go.

• Learn to use the device, app or 

software. 

• Learn to use accessibility features. 

• Learning to choose between available 

accessibility features.
Knowing who 

needs the 

training is 

critical.
Knowing what 

type of 

training is 

needed is key 

to selecting a 

training 

strategy.

• Device, app or 

software. 

• Accessibility features. 

• Choosing the correct 

accessibility features. 
Knowing what 

type of 

training is 

needed is key 

to selecting a 

training 

strategy.

Device, app or software. 

Apple Stores: 

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/

Senior Planet: Older Adults Technology 

Services (OATS): https://oats.org/

AARP: https://learn.aarp.org

Public Libraries 

Medicare: 

https://www.medicare.org/articles/seniorcomputer-classes-to-try-online-for-free
Knowing what 

type of 

training is 

needed is key 

to selecting a 

training 

strategy.

• Accessibility features . 

Apple: 

https://support.apple.com/accessibility

Technology Act Programs: 

https://www.at3center.net/stateprogram

Google: support.google.com
Knowing what 

type of 

training is 

needed is key 

to selecting a 

training 

strategy.

• Choosing accessibility 

features . 

Technology Act Programs: 

https://www.at3center.net/stateprogram

Easter Seals: 

https://www.easterseals.com/
Thank you!  https://www1.ucdenver.edu/centers/centerfor-inclusive-design-and-engineering
Questions?

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