When area agencies on aging address loneliness an interview with Nancy Tufts of ElderSource

Liz Miller

When area agencies on aging address loneliness an interview with Nancy Tufts of ElderSource

Nancy Tufts is the Special Projects Coordinator at ElderSource. She focuses on overseeing different projects to address loneliness.

“GetSetUp is amazing because all of its programs are taught by seniors to seniors. And it empowers the users to do the same things if they have the ability to train others.”

ElderSource, the Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center, first partnered with GetSetUp in 2020 to help address loneliness for the over 8,000 older adults in the Florida counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, St. Johns, and Volusia. 

ElderSource implemented a variety of programs to help address loneliness during the pandemic.

“GetSetUp is just so easy. The individuals in it just log in and can be a part of it. All they need is the internet. Once one member learned about it, this resource spread like wildfire.”

Nancy credits the ease of the process (and closed senior centers) for the project's success. Over 11,000 classes have been taken by ElderSource members alone in the first year. 

“I love seeing that people are taking that many courses — that shows the quality. We run multiple programs and compared to the others, GetSetUp is the easiest. It’s a smooth process. Learners love it and we love it because it doesn’t take much oversight.”

Lots of times resources and activities grow stale, but GetSetUp is constantly updating classes. Nancy was pleased to find new classes on holidays and vaccines.

“The content is phenomenal and it changes and adapts to what the seniors need. It has just been really helpful to us when programming was so limited. Many seniors took just one class and were hooked”

Many of the learners who attended classes on GetSetUp were already lifelong learners and had internet in their homes. Virtual classes also offered access to fun activities for members of ElderSource who may have mobility limitations.

“This is a program that if my mom lived down here she would be on it every day,” said Nancy, who was pleased to find we have partnerships around the globe. 

Children, family members, and caregivers can even help their older loved ones sign up for GetSetUp and check if they are eligible for local benefits or benefits through SilverSneakers.

“I think the biggest seller for my parents would be that it is taught by other seniors.”

So if you are looking for activities that meet the needs of all members of your community including those in rural areas or with limited mobility, then perhaps you want to consider GetSetUp. Empowering around-the-clock classes are available to meet everyone’s schedule and passions.

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