LINCOLN, NEB — Senior citizens in Lincoln are getting help navigating technology and learning how to avoid scams through a partnership between Aging Partners and University of Nebraska–Lincoln students.
At Victory Park Senior Center, seniors bring in phones, tablets and laptops for one-on-one assistance from UNL students. The sessions focus on practical skills that are increasingly necessary in everyday life.
“It’s really driven by the senior,” said Ben Middendorf, manager of Victory Park Senior Center. “They bring their tablets, their phones, laptops, and we encourage them to come with a list of questions for the students, which kind of drives what direction the session will take.”
Organizers say the workshops go beyond basic tech help, with a strong emphasis on scam and fraud prevention.
“Oftentimes we’re made aware of potential scams,” Middendorf said. “People bring in mail they’ve received, or they might get a call while they’re here that turns out to be a scam. We try to catch those moments and continue the education.”
Aging Partners works with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and the Nebraska SHIP Office to teach seniors how to recognize identity theft, Medicare fraud and emerging online scams. Middendorf said many scams go unreported due to embarrassment, but reporting them can help protect others.
UNL students volunteer through the university’s Community Engagement program, assisting seniors while gaining hands-on experience.
“Sometimes conversations are about five minutes helping with a problem, and then it turns into a conversation about what’s happening that week,” said Andrew Brown, UNL assistant director of community engagement. “It’s great bonding time for students and seniors, and a great way for students to gain experience with technology help.”
The monthly workshops aim to give seniors more independence and protection in an increasingly digital world.
The free digital literacy workshops run through the spring at Aging Partners. Seniors can register by calling 402-441-7158.
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