Subscribe to our news letter

Just because you *are* at home doesn’t mean you have to feel *stuck* at home! GetSetUp wants to make the most of the time you spend in your home. Our Make The Most Of At Home Guides will walk you through different ways to get the most out of your time at home. Whether you are at home due to winter weather, the pandemic, health reasons, or something else you can use this time to explore!

This is the first of a collection of mini-guides with ways for you to explore, share, and learn right from your own home. Our initial guide will go over some of the topics we plan to cover and the following guides will go more in-depth into different areas mentioned.

Get connected

Most important during this time is that you make sure you stay connected to the people and things you love! We hope to make sure that our mini-guides help you to do that. Each mini-guide will cover different topics, interests and hobbies to help readers consider new and fun ways to apply their knowledge and interests in shareable ways!

In order to share, it’s most important to stay connected. The easiest way to do that is through the internet. The National Poll on Healthy Aging — a research study done by the University of Michigan — found that staying connected virtually improved older adults’ health!

Low-cost internet providers

Most of our tips center around internet access — the best way to stay connected, learn, and keep up-to-date. However, we realize that being online is not always a simple process for everyone. Several companies offer low-cost internet specifically for seniors. If you are looking for such an option, it is best to look for one that offers a speed of 25Mbps or more so you can stream videos.

Some of these providers offer service for as little as $9.25 a month for those who qualify. Most seniors (those on Medicaid and getting other financial support) make that cut! Discover what's in your area and get connected.

Many Internet service providers, including Comcast Internet Essentials, Spectrum Internet Assist, Verizon Lifeline, AT&T, Everyone On, Freedom Pop, Universal Service, Google Fiber, and Internet First.

Devices to run the internet on include Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets that run as cheap as $249 and up.

Depending on your location, you can ask to share with a neighbor or may have a nearby hotspot that you can pull from with free public internet. Some cities offer free public wifi; Comcast offers nationwide service through Xfinity wifi hotspots via either a smartphone or a computer. If you are sharing the internet or using public internet remember do not use it for banking or other private reasons that need a secure connection.

Connecting using your cellphone

Another option is your mobile phone. If you have a smartphone you likely have a data plan that allows you to browse the internet and connect via apps.

During the pandemic, T-Mobile has provided unlimited data for anyone with a data plan. If you don’t have a data plan or are not sure what it is, just dial 611 on your cell phone to talk to the customer support of your plan and find out more.

Data plans can help you to connect on Zoom, watch Youtube, or video chat with those you love. If you are an internet newbie, don’t worry! Sign up for a class on the app of your choice to learn more with GetSetUp. You can start with learning about your cell phone (Android or iPhone) and advance on to learn how to use specific tools like Zoom, Instagram, or other topics that interest you. Before you know it you will be helping your friends to Get Set Up too!

Keen to know what some of our mini-guides will cover next? We will be exploring new areas such as:

‍

• Holiday connections - Take a closer look at how to keep up the holiday cheer when it may be hard to be as mobile as you normally are.

• Get social virtually  - Learn how to be more social online and stay connected with those you love through social media.

• Share your words - Uncover a medium to help you share your stories through blogs, podcasting, and videos.

• Travel from your living room - Learn how to tour the globe from your living room.

• Taste the difference - Learn new ways to make cooking a joy in your life.

• Tech upgrade - Take the time to finally master the technology around you and learn how to have it work for you.

• Healthy movements - Learn how you can help maintain both your physical and mental wellbeing through the power of movement.

• Mindfulness - Learn how to deal with stress, anxiety, and find quiet even when the world around you can be in turmoil.

• Volunteering - Find out how you can share your skills and talents to help those in need.

• Explore different cultures - Interested in different ways of doing things, learn how to connect with different cultures.

Plus many more! We look forward to sharing new mini-guides with you as we move into the winter months ahead. You may be at home but you will be learning to make the most of your time at home!

Have an idea or topic for a mini-guide? Please share it via email to liz@getsetup.io and who knows, maybe it will be our next mini-guide!