Now that the winter months are here, E. C. Davis knows she’ll be spending more time at home. At age 90, she is careful about venturing outside when the weather might be slippery. But she’s not worried about staying entertained because she has puzzles and games that she can play on the tablet she received through the AgeSpan Digital Access program.
“I’m a very active person, and I can get antsy during the winter months,” Davis says. “So, I really appreciate this new tablet. I love to do puzzles, and it keeps my mind active.”
Designed to help older adults with limited access to technology, the AgeSpan Digital Access program provides free tablets, along with training on how to use them. Davis learned about the program from her AgeSpan care manager, Victoria Cerasuolo, and decided to give the tablet a try. At the time, she had an old computer that she used occasionally, but it was giving her problems. Digital Access Coordinator Rosie Cooperman visited Davis in her Peabody home to set up the tablet and help her add useful applications. She also made sure to install Davis’ favorite games. Davis says she was amazed by Rosie’s patience and kindness.
“I had a computer, so I know the basics, but there is still so much I need to learn,” Davis says. “Rosie never made me feel stupid. She got me up and running with the tablet and I can’t thank her enough.”
Davis says she hopes to use her tablet for banking and medical appointments at some point soon, but she wants to practice a bit first. Her experience with the Digital Access program is one of many interactions with AgeSpan initiatives and staff that she says have helped her stay independent and engaged.
Her journey with AgeSpan began during a time when she needed extra support. She first learned about the organization at the Peabody Senior Center and started working with a care manager five years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I’m a survivor, and I could not have done it without my team,” Davis says. “When I have questions or requests, my care manager, Victoria, always follows up. If she doesn’t have an answer right away, she’ll keep researching and working on things until she finds one.”
The ongoing communication and follow-through, she says, give her peace of mind as her needs change.
“They have taken care of so many things for me; I don’t know what I would do without them,” she says. “Organizations like AgeSpan are a blessing.”
