Lighthouse for Older Adults

“Lighthouse for Older Adults,” a CITRIS and University of California Initiative, Brings Technology-Enabled Health and Well-Being to Low-Income California Seniors During COVID Crisis

Working in partnership with Eskaton and Front Porch, senior living providers in Northern and Southern California, Lighthouse researchers conducted focus groups with residents and staff to identify barriers to technology use. High rates of social isolation, limited access to needed care (especially for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and arthritis), limited literacy and education levels (in English as well as other languages), cognitive and vision/hearing challenges, and a lack of infrastructure and comfort with technology all surfaced during these discussions.