By Betsy Francis, Vice President & General Manager - AT&T Mid-Atlantic States - a special contributor to Smart Senior Daily
Whether it’s cozy family dinners or Sundays spent watching football with family, for many the fall season is about being together. Yet for countless older adults, this sense of connection is often missing.
According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 43% of adults aged 60 and older report feeling lonely frequently. So, as the days get shorter and the nights get longer, loneliness combined with the ever-present safety concerns for seniors living alone means autumn can be dark and dreary.
It's a new day – a much easier one on the tech side, too
However, technology has the potential to change this. Whether it’s sharing a holiday meal over video chat with grandchildren, allowing a grandmother to join the celebration from afar, receiving a medical alert from a smart device when a loved one needs help, or getting a friendly reminder to take medication, today’s smartphones, tablets, and smart home safety devices are far more than mere conveniences—they’re essential lifelines.
These tools deliver comfort, security, and meaningful connections, empowering seniors to live independently while still feeling the warmth and closeness of family even across the miles.
Yet, many seniors find the digital world overwhelming. Helping them gain the confidence and skills to use these tools is crucial.
AT&T steps up to help
To address this challenge, AT&T offers targeted digital literacy modules through DigitalLearn.org—a Public Library Association platform that provides free, high-quality digital literacy courses and resources.
Nearly one in four seniors don’t use the internet regularly, putting them at risk of missing vital services and connections – or worse, falling prey to online fraud. By helping seniors get comfortable with technology, we strengthen families and build a more resilient community.
A story from one of our AT&T Call Centers touched us all—a gentleman who would call in, not always for technical support, but sometimes just for a friendly chat. For him, and for so many others, our services are lifelines for social connection and companionship.
AT&T is committed to this mission, investing $5 billion by 2030 to bring affordable internet and digital resources to 25 million people. Our ScreenReady® initiative also helps families create safe digital environments.
This fall, let’s reach out—show a loved one how to video chat, or set up a smart alert for safety. Small steps make a big difference.
If you know a senior who could benefit from digital literacy training, encourage them to visit ScreenReady.att.com and att.DigitalLearn.org.
Together, we can keep seniors safe, connected, and cared for—one device at a time.
