Announcing today, a collaboration between Calhoun Communication Network and JAAG Inc. on a unique program targeted at Senior Living Providers and the seniors they service to create security and self-confidence in the use of technology to better our seniors’ lives through communication.

Dr. Denise Calhoun CEO of Calhoun Communications, a consulting firm that promotes effective communication within care communities and Peter Jones CEO of JAAG Inc. a Cybersecurity Managed Service Provider (MSP) have collaborated to offer a unique array of workshops and training opportunities, called the Senior Community Technology and Security (SCTS) Program. The program targets Senior Living Providers who are interested in providing more online activities and technology support for their seniors, as well as protecting their organization and the seniors’ digital data they are servicing.

The goal of the program is to provide older adults and senior communities an enriched interdisciplinary language-based program that not only includes lessons on building constructive communication skills to increase engagement via technology skills, but to also master ways to ensure that older adults and care providers are protected from cyber-attacks, on both the business and the seniors they service.

Why the program is beneficial and is so important to your senior community:

Technology:

• Enhances older adults’ lives
• Expands their social support network
• Provides challenging activities
• Leads to enhancements in cognitive functions, (e.g., memory performance, processing speed, & fluid intelligence)
• Provides opportunities for lifelong learning

Cybersecurity Awareness (seniors and SLP businesses), why they should be concerned:

• Older adults 60 and up are targeted in cybercrime, in 2021, 92,000+ older adults were victims of cybercrime (as reported by the FBI).
• Older victims lost 1.7 billion in stolen dollars. That is an average of $18,000+ dollars per victim.
• In 2021 84% of successful business cyber breaches were caused by human error (mainly through social engineering), despite the best technology.
• Senior living providers are prime targets for Ransomware malware attacks, due to their size and the senior’s digital information that they look after.

As indicated, the goal of the program is twofold:
1) Get our seniors to use technology confidently with the knowledge of being able to protect themselves; and
2) Making sure their digital data is stored, as well as protected by their Senior Living Provider.

Denise is a researcher in gerontology and healthcare and has published articles in various academic journals. She is also National Board Certified as a distinguished educator in Language Arts and is the author of Changing Seasons: A Language Arts Curriculum for Healthy Aging published by Purdue University Press.

Peter is a certified Computer and Mobile Forensics Examiner and is a volunteer, certified, and registered with the nationwide Air & Space Force Association (AFA) CyberPatriot Program as a: A Cyber “Tech Mentor” to school children (K-12) and a Cyber “ Tech Caregiver” as part of the CyberPatriot Cybergenerations initiative for seniors.