Tech For Seniors: Montclair Group Nails Down $20K Grant

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place (mGAP) has been selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge Flagship grant for $20K to support the organization’s digital navigation program which directly benefits our community’s modern agers (age 50+ residents), facilitating access to digital communication, assistive technology and emergency alerts. mGAP is one of only 343 grantees selected (out of 3,300+ applications) from across all 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With this quick action grant, mGAP will further develop the outreach and scope of the already impactful SmartSeniors/SmartTech program with utilization of state-of-the-art demonstration devices such as Smartphones and Smart Watches. Skill building exercises with these devices will prepare older residents to fare better in our digital age.

“We are so proud that AARP has selected mGAP for this investment to help us make our community more livable for residents of all ages,” says Ann Lippel, mGAP president. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more age-friendly and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our peers.”

She points out that the model project, through the work of mGAP’s cadre of peer navigators, will empower modern agers with the skills and hardware they need to demystify digital communication. “We will be focusing on the use of available, consumer-friendly assistive technology and the development of a clear emergency communication program to enhance the economic, healthcare and social well-being of our fellow citizens,” she explains.

Emergency messaging, often reactive, sometimes fails to consider the economic, technological, visual, and cognitive challenges that may trip up modern agers, according to Ms. Lippel. “A community that adopts a best practices approach to communication will better serve all its residents,” she says. “For example, during the recent heat wave emergency, the distributed Township Alert failed to tell residents where to find cooling centers. An age-friendly message would have included this information.”

mGAP plans to collaborate with the Township Division of Senior Services, the People with Disabilities Advisory Committee, Aging in Montclair, Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation/Do Drop In, Out Montclair, and Toni’s Kitchen to solicit both peer navigators and trainees from their representative groups. We especially need more volunteers who would be comfortable helping their peers demystify digital communication. Anyone over the age of 50 who might want to become a digital navigator will be vetted and trained before being paired with a trainee. Anyone interested, please send an email to support@montclairgateway.com

About Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place

Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place (mGAP) is an advocacy and service organization seeking solutions to the challenges faced by those of us in retirement age who wish to remain in our communities as we grow older. It was founded in 2021 by modern agers to serve the interests of modern agers.

In cooperation with other community organizations, we work daily to bridge the gap between existing services and the real needs of our older residents to age in place. We provide connections to services, resources and feedback surveys that improve prospects, as we constantly work to identify barriers in order to encourage public policy to truly reflect our needs.

About the AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge grant program funds innovative, quick-action projects that inspire change in areas such as public places, housing, transportation, digital connectivity, community resilience, and more. With additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.

This is all part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets, affordable and accessible housing and transportation options, access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

To learn more about the projects being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 343 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of current and past AARP Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work at aarp.org/livable.

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