This is the seventh story in our new series on senior food insecurity. It’s a topic that is especially important in the greater Memphis area, which has the third-highest senior food insecurity rates in the country.
Although a large portion of MIFA’s programming is
Meals on Wheels, the nonprofit organization also provides nourishment to seniors who are hungry for connection. This “more than a meal” approach to service includes Claris Companion tablets and MIphone Buddy volunteer programs which both help to address social isolation.
Founded in 1968,
MIFA aims to unite the community through service, focusing on increasing and supporting the independence of
vulnerable seniors and families in crisis. Through partnerships with corporations, church and faith groups, foundations, donors, and volunteers, MIFA provides high-impact programs to more than 30,000 individuals in Memphis and Shelby County each year.
Launched in 2020, the Claris Companion program started with 50 clients and has grown over the past four years. The tablets come loaded with features specifically designed for seniors to navigate. The large buttons and text, and specialized apps help them track their health and well-being, interact in group chats, play games, and access information. These tablets help bridge the digital divide and combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Tonya Bradley-Parker is the vice president of Meals on Wheels. She works to ensure that over 4,000 seniors receive hot or frozen meals that meet their nutrition requirements on a daily basis. Bradley-Parker says these Claris Companion tablets provide a different type of nourishment for seniors.
“The tablet has kind of helped to fill that void for them,” she says. “One of the first questions we ask when we’re trying to onboard a senior with a device is ‘what are those things that you wish you could have access to or things that you no longer are able to do that you would want to be connected to?’ The response sometimes is people missing going to church services, or they miss connecting with their family, so the device helps us to do that.”
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Courtesy MIFAAnthony Walker with his Claris tablet that helps him stay connected.The response has been overwhelmingly positive, says Bradley-Parker. Giving folks the ability to connect with their families via video chats and attending virtual church services has been rewarding for all parties involved.
Today, they have 100 tablets running different programs. In order to further that connection, MIFA staff makes sure they monitor users via the dashboard. They can send alerts or reminders to users to charge their devices or push notifications of health and wellness checks.
Just as the Meals on Wheels driver might be the only person these seniors see, these tablet connections also provide a necessary socialization and interaction on a regular basis. A big part of maintaining good physical health is dependent on mental health. Social interaction and finding a sense of community is vital for aging adults. As folks are living longer, MIFA looks to examine its role in helping adults remain able and independent in their own homes.
“Not only is it the nutritious meal, but it is these other tools that connect them to not feeling isolated and alone,” Bradley-Parker says.
Tyesha Jones is the senior client services coordinator at MIFA, and works closely with seniors, providing instruction, helping develop content, and continually supporting users each step of the way.
Jones knows how introducing new technology to anyone can be intimidating and especially scary for seniors. She aims to show people how these tablets can help make people’s lives easier and more enjoyable.
Guiding users through steps like how to turn the tablet on and off, adjust its volume, navigate the home screen, make video calls, send messages, and get on the internet, Jones works at a pace that’s suitable for the users.
“We personalize the tablet together, setting up their favorite apps, contacts, and any accessibility features they might need, which helps them feel more connected and in control,” she says. “I reassure them that it’s okay to make mistakes and that I’m here to help, providing easy-to-follow written instructions and my contact information for any follow-up questions.”
Then Jones will check in with seniors after a few days to go over how their tablet use has been.
“By the end of our session, most older adults feel much more comfortable and excited about using their tablets,” she says. “It’s all about patience, encouragement, and making the learning process as enjoyable as possible.”
Jones has witnessed users who were initially nervous or reluctant to try out the tablets shift their thoughts and feelings towards the technology. Now, some of them are among the top users with the highest usage minutes of all the participants.
“It’s moments like these that highlight the profound impact technology can have on enhancing the quality of life for seniors, giving them a newfound sense of freedom and connection,” Jones says.
Anthony Walker is a local senior who is grateful for that newfound freedom and connection the Claris Companion tablet has provided him. Walker lives alone and has lost his leg. He has adapted and considers the tablet a game-changer for added independence in his daily life. Whether it’s used to watch sports, play games, find recipes, or to video chat with his family, the tablet helps keep Walker and other seniors stay connected.
Jones says the Claris Companion tablet program has seen fantastic growth since its launch. They’ve introduced virtual bingo every other Friday, which has been a hit with participants.
“We also just completed our first UHC Catalyst Cohort, where we equipped tablets with blood pressure machines, providing an innovative way for our seniors to monitor their health,” she says. “Plus, we’ve added 33 new users to the program, expanding our community and helping more seniors embrace technology. It’s been amazing to see the positive impact and the sense of connection and empowerment this program brings to our users.”
MIFA also provides seniors with the MIPhone Buddy system to help deepen connections. The program is made up of volunteer buddies who can reach out to seniors to provide check-in phone calls, birthday greetings, and regular chit-chats.
One of the MIFA employees is a phone buddy and calls a specific client on Saturday for an hour each week. Whether it’s catching up on T.V. shows or personal matters, it’s a call that clients look forward to.
“I think that it is so impactful that the volunteers really build special connections with the people that they call,” Bradley-Parker says. “The phone buddy told me that this particular client said her family and a lot of her friends may not call her, but she can always count on her calling every Saturday.”
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a built-in support system of friends and family checking in, but with MIFA, seniors are never alone. These important connections provide necessary companionship, enjoyment, enrichment, education, and a vital sense of community for seniors.