Seniors across Southeast Michigan are getting a leg up in the digital world thanks to some local Detroit organizations. Connect 313, founded by the City of Detroit, Rocket Mortgage Classic, Rocket Companies, Microsoft and United Way of Southeastern Michigan, is looking to close the digital gap in Detroit by providing tablets, digital training and tech-enabled healthcare services to low-income elders.
The program, known as Connecting Seniors, is funded through a $3.9 million dollar grant from the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities Rapid Response Initiative and the Connect 313 Fund. The first of its kind, the program signifies the larger digital picture in being sure all low-incomes seniors have adequate access to technology.
“The disparity in digital equity is a systemic, generational issue that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Joshua Edmonds, Digital Director for the City of Detroit and Chief Advocate of Connect 313. “Connect 313 is designed to undertake an ecosystem approach to eradicate the digital divide. We’ve already made great strides in connecting students to critical technology resources, but we must not lose focus on our seniors who are facing economic hardship and persistent technology adoption challenges that make telehealth a distant reality. I’m thankful for the numerous partners that have convened to take the necessary first step in securing resources for our community.”
Connect 313 plans to distribute the devices and services with the help of its partners. Wayne State University, along with their schools of medicine, College of Nursing, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Social Work and Institute of Gerontology will assist seniors in the fight against COVID-19. Offering health services like testing, counseling and mental healthcare, this will also include a platform that ties together Microsoft + Accenture telehealth and COVID-19 solutions to the University’s suite of services.
“As an urban-facing university and among the first in Detroit to mobilize into service to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations, Wayne State University is honored to be part of this consortium,” says Wayne State University’s President M. Roy Wilson. “This initiative rallies Wayne State resources to support low-income older adults with much needed access to primary health services and accelerates our commitment to eliminate health disparities in our community.”
In addition to Wayne State University, human-I-T is lending its resources to the city’s disadvantaged senior population. Serving as the connectivity provider for Connecting Seniors, human-I-T will provide the devices and WiFi hotspots along with technical support.
“We are honored to play a role in ensuring that Michigan’s seniors have access to critical telehealth services. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance that technology and connectivity have on overall quality of life, especially for at-risk communities,” explains Gabe Middleton, co-Founder and CEO, human-I-T. “Getting devices into the hands of seniors throughout the state will unlock opportunities for them to receive high-quality care and stay in touch with loved ones while reducing in-person interactions during the pandemic.”
As Detroit seniors struggle with access to healthcare and seclusion during the pandemic, these organizations are looking to bridge the gap and bring technological access to 4,000 disenfranchised elders over the next three months. A Wayne State University study uncovered Detroit’s seniors are dying at a rate of two and a half times more than that of other seniors living across the state of Michigan. With the help of its partners, Connect 313 aims to create a digital space for the hard-hit population and work to curve these outcomes.
“Throughout the pandemic it has become abundantly clear that we need to be creative in how we connect residents to digital resources,” Jay Farner, Chairman of the Connect 313 Fund Board of Directors and CEO of Rocket Companies say. “This initiative, thanks to the support of the State of Michigan, provides an impactful solution for our seniors to access the healthcare they need. We are committed to changing the course for Detroiters through the Connect 313 Fund.”
Alongside the City of Detroit and the Rocket Community Fund, United Way for Southeastern Michigan is responsible for writing the grant and will act as the overseer for the initiative.
“Our seniors are pillars of our community, and we are excited to be able to work collaboratively with so many partners to provide them with access to technology and application-based health support. We are committed to leveraging the collective power of the community to make a lasting change in the lives of everyone across Southeast Michigan.”
Focus :HOPE, currently responsible for providing monthly food boxes to over 40,000 low-income seniors in the city, will help facilitate the delivery of the devices. The organization will also serve as a point of contact for caregivers and seniors who are interested in learning more and becoming a part of the program.
““Focus: HOPE is proud to be a part of connecting seniors with technology that will provide them will the health-related support they need during this time of uncertainty. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our caseload had increased by over 4,500 seniors. We are ecstatic to leverage our relationship with this vulnerable community to connect them with additional resources at their front door,” says Portia Roberson, CEO of Focus: HOPE.
Seniors and caregivers wishing to enroll in the program are urges to contact Focus :HOPE at 313-494-4240.
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