News from: Office of Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez

The Riverside County Office on Aging has started a program to help Blythe seniors learn to navigate devices, connect online and improve their quality of life.

The county department, which provides monthly activities and meals at the Doris Morgan Community Center in Blythe, completed an upgrade to the community center’s Wi-Fi access earlier this year.

The community center team started introducing tablets to participants at the center and are offering training to help them learn how to use them. A total of 98 seniors have completed the training and have received their tablet, at no cost to them.

“Computers and Internet access are increasingly becoming necessities in life,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This program fills the gap between seniors and the technology, and show ways this technology can make some things in life easier. As the county and city work together to improve this center, this is a great new program that people will enjoy and will build community by helping people be connected.”

The goals of the Riverside County Office on Aging Tech Access Program are to enable seniors to increase socialization and connectedness through frequent use of the tablet. The direct assistance by staff helps seniors feel more comfortable using the tablet so they can develop a virtual support network with other seniors, family members and loved ones and have the ability to connect to resources and services to meet their overall needs.

Community members started received their tablets in August and have been using them and continuing to take the classes.

Tomasa Gomez, a senior participant at the community center, shared, “It has allowed me to access important information and resources quickly and efficiently. It has also helped me stay connected with friends and family. I am so grateful for this gift and how it has improved my life overall. Thank you very much again!”