Multilingual Training for Low-Income Seniors In Santa Clara County

The challenge

Even as more older adults learn how to use technology and engage online, millions of seniors are still on the wrong side of the digital divide. These individuals are at risk of isolation and loneliness, and lack access to critical health services and other online assets that enhance health and wellbeing.  For many of these vulnerable older adults, language can be a significant challenge when seeking training in critical technology skills.   

 

The strategy

To reach underserved multilingual older adults, OATS aimed to expand access to culturally relevant, linguistically inclusive digital literacy programs for low-income, multilingual older adults. This approach combined in-person and online learning opportunities to improve digital engagement, enhance access to health services, and reduce social isolation among diverse senior populations.

The solution

In 2023, OATS received more than $1 million in Access to Technology funding from the County of Santa Clara Social Service Agency’s Department of Aging and Adult Services to provide in-person and online digital literacy programming in English, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Spanish to more than 1,080 low-income older adult residents of Santa Clara County. OATS partnered with Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) to offer multilingual, in-person trainings and utilize Senior Planet courses for virtual training to a network of partner sites within Santa Clara County. OATS also outreached to over 42,000 Santa Clara County residents about this programming and partnered with TeleVisit to distribute 100 devices to the most vulnerable and socially isolated older adult residents.