Prior to the pandemic, many residents at Mercy Housing didn’t have the tools to go online from their rooms; later, onsite computer labs were closed due to COVID-19. These and other hurdles isolated low-income seniors served by the Denver nonprofit.
“They’re not seeing grandkids, friends and family,” Laura Andes, the organization’s senior vice president, told LeadingAge Annual Meeting Virtual Experience attendees Thursday. “They benefit the most from access to technology.”
This divide compelled Mercy leaders to obtain several funding sources, including an AARP grant, to buy Android tablets for its 127 properties in 16 states. Some tablets are designated to be checked out for a few days; others are for long-term use.
