Connections at Home
People of all ages can benefit from online media’s ability to help maintain social connections that lead to positive mental health, and can connect them to important resources. From 2020 to 2022, HFNJ provided three grants totaling $114,828 to support Connections at Home’s project “Reducing Social Isolation by Bridging the Digital Divide for Seniors.”
This program helps socially isolated, home bound seniors in East Orange by giving them a senior-friendly computer or tablet, and pairing them with a social worker.
In the final year of the project in 2023, 82 computers and tablets were distributed. Connections at Home monitors usage, and 87.5% of the clients used their tablet 5 or more days a week – breaking the stereotype of techno-phobic seniors.
Social workers remained in regular contact with the clients. Based on an assessment at the end of the project period, 54% of clients reported reduced social isolation; 74% had improved mental health; and 77% felt reduced loneliness.
Connections at Home has developed expertise in this innovative model of delivering services, and they have been providing the program for nine years. The work will continue past the HFNJ grants with funding from other sources – including a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Essex to continue this work in East Orange.