Warm up with the Virtual Senior Academy

Karen Feinstein (right) and Program Associate Rachel Goldberger, MPH, MSW teach a Virtual Senior AcademyTM class on Greek archaeology to individuals streaming from their homes and from senior centers.

In just over a year's time, more than 700 older adults living in Allegheny County have connected through JHF's Virtual Senior Academy^TM: an interactive, online platform that promotes social interaction, lifelong learning, and creativity. Older adults are able to take or teach live classes on an expanding list of subjects, including health and wellness, arts and music, current events, and history. The Virtual Senior Academy^TM links older adults through video conferencing technology from the comfort of their own residence or community settings.

The Virtual Senior Academy^TM was recently featured in NEXTpittsburgh and WESA. The articles showcase the Virtual Senior Academy^TM's Tech Buddy initiative, which matches older adults with volunteers who help them navigate the platform and answer any questions that they may have. The Virtual Senior Academy^TM has partnered with local universities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to recruit and train Tech Buddies.

Since the initial training session, an additional 60 people have expressed interest in helping older adults become online explorers. If you are interested in becoming a Tech Buddy, contact Rachel Goldberger (Goldberger@jhf.org) or call 412-594-2579 for more information.

To sign up for the Virtual Senior Academy^TM, visit virtualsenioracademy.org.