Virtual Senior Academy' Expands to Connect More Older Adults During Pandemic

The Pittsburgh-based Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) has expanded its Virtual Senior Academy (VSA) to seniors isolated by the coronavirus pandemic, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . The online platform offers interactive classes for older adults, and enrollment has nearly tripled and attendance doubled in the past two months. The VSA's offerings include sessions on topics like health and wellness, history and the arts, book clubs, and music. Users must have access to a computer, a webcam, and an Internet connection, while additional options have been implemented in response to the pandemic. Persons 50 and older are invited to participate, with community members of all ages serving as facilitators. Young volunteers with computer proficiency act as "tech buddies" to help get seniors connected. Classes are held live to maintain the emphasis on interaction. JHF is starting to transition management of the VSA to the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Pittsburgh, and JCC's Fara Marcus says the academy's "network of professionals make all the difference with their expertise and way of making participants feel welcome."