Seniors Can Connect! – A HelpAge Canada Program

Seniors Can Connect! is a program designed to combat senior isolation through the provision of tablets and digital literacy training for seniors and the organizations that support them. 

We work with organizations locally to deliver Seniors Can Connect! via two approaches:

Personal Path: Seniors receive a pre-configured device for their individual use and technology mentors accompany each participant to learn remotely at their own pace. Participants build baseline digital literacy skills and confidence over time to become empowered digital citizens.  

Community Enablement: Organizations receive tablets set up for multiple users to increase the reach of their online programs. Accessible devices can be shared amongst the community and organizations receive training from technology mentors to build their in-house capacity to teach and support seniors.

At a glance

Year founded: 2020

Geographic region of focus: National

Projected 2021 budget: $2,000,000

Top funding sources:

• Corporate donations: 56%
• Individual donations: 41%
• Government funding: 3% 

How you can help

Give

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a spotlight on the painful reality of senior isolation and loneliness in Canada and shown the pressing need to empower seniors as digital citizens. Digital literacy and access to technology are critical for seniors to connect with the community and ensure access to basic needs. However, many barriers prevent older people from adopting technology.

The impact for older Canadians from this program is life-changing. They stand to gain:

• Independence
• Increased access to necessities like groceries, government services and healthcare
• Direct connection to their support network and the opportunity to join online communities
• Access to online resources and entertainment including therapeutic and recreational programming

Volunteer

Participants receive a sensitive senior-friendly approach to digital literacy that encourages confidence in individual learning and capacity building through the Connected Canadians Technology Mentorship Program.

We invite corporations who may like to develop a volunteer program with Seniors Can Connect! in technology mentorship as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy to contact us to learn more about workplace volunteering.

Donation wishlist

Aside from giving to the program directly, Seniors Can Connect! welcomes in-kind technology donations. If you would like to consider a donation of devices, accessories, or other support, please reach out so we can share our technical requirements.

Events and fundraising

Ride to Connect is a national campaign that takes place during the summer to fundraise for Seniors Can Connect!. Community members pledge to bike a target number of kilometres to reach their fundraising goal. Information will become available in winter 2021 for next summer’s campaign.

Details of this years’ campaign are available at: https://ridetoconnect.ca/

Board members and executives

Connected Canadians Leadership Team:

Emily Jones Joannisse
CEO, Connected Canadians

Tas Damen
CIO, Connected Canadians

Funding priorities

We work with community partners to deliver Seniors Can Connect! across Canada. Donations allow us to expand the reach of the program; this means helping more seniors to build digital literacy skills and to get connected to their support networks and community.