Tech Distributed to Senior Companion Program

Supporting Older Adults in Allegheny County

In August, Computer Reach distributed 40 laptops and 27 hotspots to volunteers at the Allegheny County Senior Companion program. The program connects older adults in the community with volunteers age 55 and older who provide friendly weekly visits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was unable to offer in-person services. They did not have access to the technology needed to offer virtual visits either. To remedy this, we distributed laptops and hotspots, offered set up support, and answered recipient questions to make the tech more user-friendly.

What is the Senior Companion program?

The Senior Companion program provides assistance to older adults in Allegheny County who are lonely, have a health issue, or could benefit from a friendly visitor. The program offers many benefits to participants, including: increased socialization, decreased loneliness, increased functioning at home, respite for family caregivers, and more. Participants decide how they want to spend their time with their Senior Companion.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for the program, older adults must:

• live in Allegheny County,
• be at least 60 years old,
• and need some assistance to maintain independent living in their homes.

To request an application or apply by phone, call the AAA SeniorLine at 412-350-5460.

More Information

To learn more, visit the Allegheny County website or download this flyer. For more news, visit our News page.