‘Get Connected: Technology Fair for 50+’ is the region’s largest technology event, which aims to reduce frustration and build confidence in seniors so they can fully integrate tech into their daily lives; Sponsored by County of San Diego’s Aging and Independent Services and San Diego Oasis

San Diego CA— Next month, leaders at San Diego Oasis, an award-winning nonprofit organization serving people age 50 and better throughout the county, will host an immersive technology event designed to help ease frustration when it comes to smartphones, computers, tablets, apps, telemedicine, and much more.

San Diego Oasis to Host Free Tech Event for Seniors

The “Get Connected: Technology Fair for 50+” is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, and more than 1,000 San Diego County residents are expected to attend. The tech fair is the region’s largest for older adults, featuring free workshops on social networking, online safety, innovative apps, smart phones and tablets, and much more. Attendees can consult with a tech expert in a one-on-one environment to answer just about any kind of tech question. Opportunity drawings for some exciting tech-related gifts will be held throughout the day.

San Diego Seniors Want New Topics, Stimulating Conversations

The event is designed to be upbeat, inviting, and stimulating, and organizers have taken great care to curate the best presenters and exhibitors to satisfy attendee needs. “In 2018, we welcomed more than 900 older adults at our Oasis Lifelong Learning Center, there was so much positive energy among our attendees and the response to learn about technology, from the basics to advanced topics was incredible,” says Simona Valanciute, president and CEO, San Diego Oasis. “To accommodate the enthusiastic crowd, we are moving the event to Reading Cinemas in Grossmont Center, just steps away from our center.”
Presenters are multi-generational, diverse, and have varying perspectives. “Peer to peer learning creates a comfortable, non-threatening environment,” continues Valanciute. “Students leave our event feeling motivated and empowered to further use the smart technology they have at their fingertips.”

Technology Use Among Seniors Rise, But So Does Frustration

Recent studies show events like the one hosted by San Diego Oasis and supported by County of San Diego’s Aging and Independent Services are needed.
According to a 2019 study from Pew Research, older Americans are spending more time in front of their screens than a decade ago. Today, 73% of adults age 65 and older are internet users, compared to 14% in 2000, and just more than half (53%) are smartphone owners.
However researchers at UCSD’s Design Lab who analyzed older adults’ perspectives on technology intended to allow them to “age in place,” found when the seniors experienced frustration with new technology, it made them unsure of their ability to use it, leaving them unmotivated to try.
“If San Diego wants to truly be an ‘age-friendly community,’ then we need to look after the well-being of all older adults,” says Valanciute. “Not just their basic needs, but also provide opportunities to learn, engage, and be included. Technology allows us to do this, and programs like our Get Connected event enable us to mobilize this important population and serve them in convenient and relevant ways. San Diego Oasis has been doing this for nearly 40 years, and this is where we excel in the ecosystem to serve seniors in our region.”

Know Before You Go

• “Get Connected: Technology Fair for Adults 50+”
• Hosted by San Diego Oasis, Sponsored by County of San Diego Aging and Independent Services
• Tuesday, October 15, 2019 / 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 619-881-6262
• Event is free, but registration is required.
• Go to www.SanDiegoOasis.org to register for Class #75
• Free shuttle buses for North County residents will be provided. Call 760-796-6020 for more information on transportation.

About San Diego Oasis

San Diego Oasis, an award-winning nonprofit organization, is on a mission to change the way people experience aging and pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful lives through education and community service. The community-based organization hosts over 3,000 workshops annually at over 45 locations to 5,000 active participants throughout San Diego County. The nonprofit’s Intergenerational Literacy Tutoring Program matches an older adult in the life of an at-risk, low-income student in grades K-4. Their flagship center, located in La Mesa’s Grossmont Center, is an exemplary model of engagement for people age 50 and better. Learn more at www.SanDiegoOasis.org, connect on Facebook or call 619-881-6262.