Dear Friends,

At Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP, we’ve adopted a motto that sums up the lasting impression we envision our programs will have: Aging with Attitude. As we approach our 20th year of growth and service, I’m proud to report that our organization is expanding with that same vigor as well, and with an edge that has us tremendously excited about what’s ahead.

During these past twelve months, as we’ve continued our evolution from a bold idea to a true national movement, in 2023 OATS made significant progress in influencing the perceptions of aging and expanding our reach through high-end customer experiences.

Highlights include:

• Earlier this month we opened a gleaming new Senior Planet center in Miami, which is our fourth such center nationwide, and Miami’s first technology-themed community center for older adults. Visitors can get assistance with technology and learn new skills in a spacious, modern center packed with 72 screens, featuring state-of-the-art computer equipment and Wi-Fi – all free of charge.
• Through our flagship program Senior Planet, new and returning seniors participated in training opportunities over 465,000 times this year. What’s more – we now offer hundreds of classes in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.
• For those who can’t get to our flagship centers, our online Senior Planet website, seniorplanet.org, continues to grow, accessed by more than 1.5 million users per year. Website visitors can find live online classes, special events, tech tip videos and resources, and over 200 original pieces of editorial content geared toward the older reader – which drove record-breaking engagements from readers, garnering over 1,300 comments!
• In 2023, through our licensing program, we equipped and trained 383 partner sites nationwide to deliver free Senior Planet classes to older adults. We also began providing in-person programs in collaboration with AARP state offices across the country.
• In response to growing demand, we released a head-spinning number of new, top-of-the-line programs that focused on AI, disaster preparedness, booking vacation stays online, and more!
• OATS was selected as a Winner in the 29th Annual Communicator Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Communications for the “(Em)Powered” video series that features four Senior Planet participants from across the country who describe how Senior Planet technology training has enriched their lives by helping them work, pursue creative endeavors, and stay connected with loved ones.
• To support the growing need for access and connection to low-cost internet and training, OATS remains dedicated to empowering older adults through digital inclusion. In a recent Philanthropy News Digest, OATS initiatives are credited as influencing the federal government’s launch of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided discounted internet service to low-income Americans.

In coordination with AARP State Offices across the country, our work around digital equity, continues to help older adults learn about low-cost internet options to get and stay online. Because we believe that they should be able to stay connected to their loved ones as they age, we provide a free informational hotline, where they can find the support and direction they need to get connected (1-888-713-3495).  

For nearly 20 years, OATS has seen first-hand the transformative power of older adults who continue to learn and grow in this increasingly technological world. This year we continued our legacy of supporting older adults from all over the country in finding new ways to thrive and connect. It’s truly an honor to be part of these stories.

Finally, I hope you can take a moment and donate to help OATS increase our impact. All of our direct, Senior Planet programs are delivered free of charge. We simply cannot succeed without you, and we put every dollar to good use.

All of us at OATS are looking forward to another exciting year to come. Here’s to a healthy, secure, and connected new year!

Warmest regards,

Tom Kamber

Executive Director,
Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP

Tom Kamber is the executive director of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet from AARP.  He is a leading expert on aging and technology and is regularly featured in national media.