ATHOL—Starting next February, the Athol Council on Aging and Athol Public Library will offer a series of classes to help seniors over 60 improve their digital literacy.

Funded by a $69,781 grant by the American Rescue Plan Act through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the new Embrace Technology Project is geared towards those seniors with little technological experience. The project will help seniors navigate e-mail, use video communication apps and learn how to use shopping and banking apps, among other goals. This project will serve residents in Athol and the nine-town Quabbin region and is free and open to the public.

Cathy Savoy, director of the Athol Council on Aging, added that this program will help to combat isolation and loneliness. 

Savoy and Athol Public Library Director Jean Shaughnessy—along with Library Assistant Director Robin Shtulman and Library Technician Robin Brzozowski—wrote the grant over the summer.

“We’re rural, and with everything going digital, this is going to be a great support and providing the training, teaching older adults how to do the basics,” Savoy said.

According to a press release, through the Embrace Technology Project, the COA and library will provide “friendly and simple instruction on the skills needed to make the most of the internet.” There will be small group classes run in four sessions, one-on-one tutoring at the COA and library, a bi-weekly peer-led encouragement group, and pop-up learning sessions at Athol and Orange housing locations. Participation will be limited to seniors age 60 and older who live in Athol and the surrounding area.

Brzozowski said the first step is to meet with each participant to learn their needs. Classes will have six students, led by two instructors. Classes should be finalized by Dec. 28 and will start next February and run through the end of 2024. The organizers hope that this program can continue after the grant has run out.

“We’ll also host gathering times for those that have been in the programs,” said Brzozowski.

The grant funding will also allow for an expansion of the libary’s hotspot lending service. Fifty hotspots, each with a one-year free service contract, will be available, some for short-term loan and others for permanent ownership. Additionally, individuals who participate in one of the four small group classes will learn on a new iPad. Upon completion of the classes, they will get to keep the device.

“You can’t acquire any fluency or comfort if you need to leave it (the iPad) behind,” Brzozowski said. “It needs to come home.”

Savoy said that the COA has offered similar tutoring for the last five years, though this has been through internships and in a one-on-one format. She said one challenge for seniors is that with newer devices, there’s a concern that they’ll break them.

“They’re very timid about moving forward, which is what brings them to us,” Savoy said. “They want assurance they’re doing the right thing.”

For more information, contact the Athol Council at 978-249-8986 or the Athol Public Library at 978-249-9515. Applications are available at the library and Council on Aging. Participation in the small group classes and distribution of the hotspots for permanent ownership will be determined by random drawings of qualified applicants.

“We really encourage the seniors to come in and see what we have to offer,” Savoy said. “Between the one-on-one and group sessions, we can bring them forward and we hope to continue to support their learning experience.”

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or at mbowen@recorder.com