Camden County Provides Tablets To Seniors Isolated By Pandemic

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — The coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions associated with it have taken their toll on face-to-face case management for seniors.

Case management has had to be carried out telephonically and all spaces to meet have been closed, which has created a barrier between assessors and seniors, but Camden County is intervening to help solve that problem.

Camden County is providing 300 tablets to seniors for case management and to combat the social isolation seniors face due to mandated social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, county officials said on Wednesday.

“Community engagement and socialization are the most important aspects of the congregate nutrition sites,” Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department, said. “Because of the pandemic, we’ve had to facilitate our social services from a distance and unfortunately, this has resulted in further isolation among our seniors.”

The Senior Friendly tablets will offer video chats from other congregate site members and activities from the sites that the consumers could engage in. Sites often offer educational programs that can be conducted virtually.

Officials said the tablets are easy to use, and it incorporates touch screen technology for those with neuropathy, has simple to use applications and allows users to be able to share photos and video chat with loved ones. Users can also order medication and groceries from their tablet. They can also be used for leisure actives, such as playing solitaire and accessing the internet.

“Everything is happening online nowadays and so often, our seniors can be left behind,” Rodriguez said. “By purchasing and distributing these tablets, we hope that our seniors here in Camden County can begin feeling connected to their communities once again.”

“All tablets will be assigned and tracked.” Rodriguez said. “We will train the users how to operate their tablets, and we’ll have people available to answer any questions. If someone isn’t using their tablet, we can retrieve them and distribute them to someone else who will utilize it.”

All Camden County residents who are 60 years old and older who do not have access to the internet and would like to participate in the county’s virtual Senior Service’s events can call 856-858-3220 for a tablet.

Isolated seniors will have priority for the hardware. A wait list will be established, and after the vulnerable population is served, tablets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.