The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) have expanded their partnership with GetSetUp to continue offering free online classes for hundreds of thousands of older adults in New York State.
NYSOFA and AgingNY began their partnership with GetSetUp during the pandemic as a solution to combat social isolation and bridge the digital divide for older New Yorkers. New Yorkers have since flocked to it in droves, with over 122,000 New York learners taking 169,000 classes in the first year and expanding rapidly.
GetSetUp was designed by and for people who are 50 and older to learn new skills, connect with others, and unlock new life experiences. Users can browse and enroll in courses at https://www.getsetup.io/partner/NYSTATE or refer a friend at https://dost.gsudevelopment.com.
NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “GetSetUp has far exceeded our expectations in helping to combat social isolation, foster mental and physical well-being, and bridge the digital divide for older adults. The numbers speak for themselves: nearly 200,000 users have been empowered by this user-friendly platform to learn new technologies, improve their health, engage their intellect, connect with others, and share their unique talents, skills, and expertise.”
In a January 2022 survey of GetSetUp users in New York, 94% said they consider the platform a reliable source to learn about advances in health technology. New York users also rate mental engagement, physical fitness, and social engagement as the areas where they saw the most improvement thanks to GetSetUp classes, giving the classes an average 4.6 out of 5-star rating.
Physical exercise, balance, and agility classes rank among the most popular offerings for New York users, including classes on morning fitness, Tai Chi-Shibashi, and Stretch and Destress Yoga. The platform also offers practical skills-training classes with an emphasis on reskilling and upskilling curriculum for older New Yorkers to access new economic opportunities.
“The social and mental health benefits are reciprocal for users and instructors alike,” Olsen added. “All classes are taught by older adults who have backgrounds in education or other professional expertise to share with their peers.”
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