2024 Conference Round-up
Thank you to all who helped make this year’s conference a success!
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Keynote – Lessons from Minnesota Voices on Telehealth Access and Digital Equity
Metro State – Taking Control of Your Privacy
ESNS – Unscrambling Technology Vocabulary_ Making Sense of the Digital World
STAR Program – Aging in Place with Assistive Technology
Tech For Seniors – Shining a Spotlight in the Darkest Side of the Digital Divide
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This annual conference highlights current technology trends, products, and information to support older adults and their caregivers
in making technology work for them. This year’s speaker lineup will offer information ranging from the basics of technology vocabulary and taking control of online privacy to aging in place with assistive technology and a case study of a program providing tablets pre-loaded with select functions and apps to isolated older adults.
Senior Community Services and returning keynote sponsor, The Medica Foundation, are also excited to welcome keynote speaker Stephanie Devitt, founder and principal consultant of SDK Communications + Consulting. Stephanie will be presenting “Lessons from Minnesota Voices on Telehealth Access and Digital Equity” based on work her organization has conducted for clients.
If you’re an older adult, caregiver, aging services professional, health care provider, senior housing representative, or a nonprofit, foundation, government agency or corporation that serves older adults, this event is for you!
Social Work CEUs approved.
7:30 am – 8:30 am: Conference Check-in
Visit exhibitors, network, enjoy continental breakfast
8:30 am – 9 am: Carriage Hall A - Opening Remarks
Welcome from Presenting Sponsor Allianz Life | Senior Community Services Overview | Keynote Introduction
9 am - 9:50 am: Carriage Hall A - Keynote Presentation sponsored by The Medica Foundation
Digital technology is a new area of interventions that can improve health and reduce disparities. Since the pandemic, SDK has led community-informed research on both digital equity for Ramsey County and Saint Paul, as well extensive qualitative interviews on telehealth experiences with community-based healthcare providers like FQHCs and nonprofits providing home and community-based services to Medicare enrollees, as well as patients. Through this presentation, we will share lessons about the opportunities and barriers of connectivity to advancing the social determinants of health and health care equity.
KEY POINTS OF NOTE
1. We’re at an important time in the future of telehealth and connectivity.
2. Social determinants of health like transportation, technology access and technology literacy, and even housing are impacted by telehealth.
3. Caregivers and people supporting seniors are also impacted by – and benefit from – telehealth.
4. Full online access will mean we have to help people Get Connected / Stay Connected / Know How To Use the Connection — and achieving it will unlock added opportunity for telehealth access and break down barriers to social determinants of health.
This presentation will provide important context and data for service providers and leaders working with older adults. We expect attendees to walk away with more information about how older adults are accessing digital technology and telehealth, and the opportunities and challenges of this mode. The presentation will also provide context that will help older adults, caregivers, and service providers consider their telehealth options.
Stephanie Devitt is a skilled veteran of public affairs strategy, working in both political appointee and consulting roles. Since 2012, she has led SDK Communications + Consulting, providing strategic counsel and directing projects of consequence for state and local government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, healthcare providers and public health agencies.
Stephanie began her career leading regional community relations for U.S. Senator Tom Daschle, a role that provided a first-hand look at how government programs of all types impact people’s lives on a daily basis. She spent 8 years consulting with regional and national public affairs and public engagement firms before founding SDK.
Stephanie holds a Master of Public Policy in Nonprofit Management, Communications and Engagement and a B.S. in Sociology with a focus on social research methods, both from the University of Minnesota. Stephanie’s research on the role of communications and advocacy networks in nations’ adoption of climate change policy was at the forefront of network mapping and science communications analysis. She is a frequent speaker on stakeholder engagement, communications and community engagement for complex policy, and the changing media environment’s impact on public trust.
In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with family, gardening, and plotting travel and home remodel adventures.
During conference check-in, Stephanie will be available near the exhibitor tables in Carriage Hall A if you’d like to introduce yourself prior to Opening Remarks and her keynote presentation.
10 am - 10:50 am: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
The primary objective of this workshop is to educate older adults and their caregivers on essential privacy practices, empowering them to protect their personal information and navigate the digital world safely. As technology becomes more integrated into daily life, it is crucial for older adults and their caregivers to understand how to protect their personal information online. This workshop will provide practical, hands-on guidance on privacy protection, including safe internet practices, recognizing scams, managing privacy settings, and understanding the importance of data security.
Faisal Kaleem, Ph.D., CISSP, CEH, MCT, CCLO, CCPA, is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Metro State University. Dr. Kaleem earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University, Miami, FL, and has been a committed educator since 1998. An award-winning cybersecurity educator, he has made significant contributions to the field both nationally and within Minnesota, particularly in fostering a diverse cybersecurity workforce and establishing a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem. Dr. Kaleem’s work is supported by substantial grants from the NSF, NSA, and various state and private entities. Holding esteemed industry certifications such as CISSP, Dr. Kaleem is also celebrated for his commitment to teaching, evidenced by multiple awards for excellence in teaching and accolades from the professional community.
Do you get confused and scratch your head when people refer to The Cloud? Do your eyes glaze over when you start hearing technical jargon? As life moves more and more online, don’t let tech terms become a barrier to accessing resources to meet your needs. This session will offer definitions of common technology vocabulary and demonstrate how they help us in our day-to-day lives. Leave with a handout of common technology terms.
Michelle Wolney is the Program Coordinator and primary technology educator for the Vital Living Program at East Side Neighborhood Services, a non-profit that serves older adults in NE & SE Minneapolis. She is also a trained Senior Planet technology class facilitator and offers those courses and curriculum to the NE community on a weekly basis. She has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology which has contributed to her passion for education and serving the community. In addition to her education, she completed a Public Allies apprenticeship through AmeriCorps and was partnered with Senior Community Services. These experiences deepened her passion for working with older adults, the nonprofit sector, and social justice advocacy.
11 am - 11:50 am: Concurrent Breakout Sessions
As we age, older adults and those who care about and for them often look for tools and resources to help with daily activities which can help maintain and or increase independence. These tools and resources can help reduce safety concerns while increasing personal comfort.
In this session attendees will learn about Minnesota’s FREE Assistive Technology Lending Library, the MN STAR Program. We will discuss the services that are available and how to access them. We will also discuss other programs and resources available in Minnesota to assist seniors to live their best life.
Additionally, we will bring an assortment of technology for attendees to see and feel! Examples of technology will include vision magnifiers, hearing amplification, specialized computer access equipment, home monitoring and alerting equipment, and more. We will make sure to save time for your questions.
Amy Perron is the Program Director for the STAR Program (A System of Technology to Achieve Results) located within the Minnesota Department of Administration. Amy has been with STAR for the past 8 years. Before serving as Director, Amy was the Assistive Technology Specialist for STAR, working directly with Minnesotans, consulting and assisting with Assistive Technology. Prior to coming to the State of Minnesota Amy worked in the private sector selling Assistive Technology.
Social isolation and loneliness are serious health concerns of the older adult population. We learned during the pandemic that technology, although not a perfect solution to the challenges of loneliness, can help alleviate some of the concerns. However, there is a segment of the older adult population where technology has been out of reach. This is the darkest side of the digital divide.
In this breakout session, you will learn how Tech for Seniors, a program of Gifts for Seniors, seeks to help its clients using tablets, internet access, and learning and support programs. We will share our thoughts on this core question: “How do you help an older adult with no technology experience get connected, be engaged, and actively learn to use a tablet?”
We will share principles and approaches we use to engage our clients while keeping them safe. We will openly share resources, content and approaches that caregivers and aging services professionals can consider while helping
isolated older adults stay connected and engaged.
Since 2017, Don Frederiksen has focused on the technology challenges and opportunities of older adults. He is the publisher and author of the SeniorTechClub.com, an online website that helps older adults stay connected and engaged by learning, sharing and exploring technology. Since 2022, Don has worked with Gifts for Seniors as he collaborates on their efforts to use technology to alleviate social isolation and loneliness in older adults.
In his retirement life, he has trained thousands of older adults on both iPhone and iPad devices and a wide range of other topics including security, privacy, social media, online learning and more. He has published hundreds of lessons, courses and guides at the SeniorTechClub.com site. He has delivered hundreds of online and in-person classes to
help older adults with their technology. Don will unapologetically call himself a retired guy just looking at doing good.
Don started his professional career as a school band director, discovered personal computers in the early 80’s, and never looked back. He traveled the country teaching IT professionals, started two companies and led corporate IT data teams. He is a data nerd.
Don has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He lives in St. Anthony, MN.
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Carriage Hall A - Conference Closing Remarks
Including raffle/prize drawing(s) - must be present to win
Presenting Sponsor:
Keynote Sponsor:
Technology Sponsor:
Food & Beverage Sponsor:
Breakout Session Sponsor:
Conference Sponsors:
Sponsor of “Shining a Spotlight on the Darkest Side of the Digital Divide”
