EQUAL ACCESS RESEARCH PARTNERS WITH INTERCONNECT TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF AMERICA’S AGING POPULATION
GAINESVILLE, FL., JANUARY 10TH, 2022 - Equal Access Research announces partnership with InterConnect (ourinterconnect.com), a new program designed to bridge the generational gap between senior citizens and college students through technology. Every day more and more people leave their hometowns to pursue careers, often leaving the older members of their families. Social isolation has been shown to be more of a health risk than obesity, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, or even smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day. Student volunteers help senior citizens better utilize modern advancements while gaining valuable knowledge through the experience shared from the older generations.
InterConnect offers weekly community session at senior living facilities to address the silent epidemic of social isolation most heavily impacting our aging population. The population aged 65 and older increased from 39.6 million in 2009 to 54.1 million in 2019 (a 36% increase) and is projected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. By 2040, there will be about 80.8 million older persons, more than twice as many as in 2000. Each meeting highlights a specific theme, incorporating technological lessons through the InterConnect app, making learning a two-way street. Instead of simply sharing information about technology use, seniors are engaged in the conversation and share their opinions on a wide range of topics: travel, local events, e-commerce, film and music entertainment, health information, fitness, and more.
InterConnect aims to create a community through the program and research more about the senior adult populations through Equal Access Research to develop technologies aimed at improving quality of life. Digital literacy is crucial for communication, online payments, entertainment, and information. The program also hopes to raise awareness against online scammers. In 2020, seniors lost three billion dollars to internet scams. InterConnect provides a holistic program dedicated to making the elderly's daily lives easier.
