Students Provide Devices, Training to Seniors for Telehealth Appointments

Students in Maryland have organized a program to collect old smartphones and other devices and train seniors to engage with doctors in telehealth appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports WBAL TV . Participants in the TeleHealth Access for Seniors nonprofit are raising funds to purchase new devices and collect old ones. Since its inception in March, the project has raised $63,000 and collected 1,500 devices, and has teamed with 75 clinics to distribute the technology to seniors across the United States. "We also provide free tech support and educational resources just to let them know how to use the devices and how to use apps like FaceTime or whatever apps or software they need to participate in these telemedicine appointments with their doctors," said Maryland high school sophomore and program participant Sasvi Kulasinghe. He and fellow sophomore Isuru Herath, who aspire to be doctors, see this effort as a means to aid older adults during the current crisis. "This is just an easy way to make an impact in your own community," Herath said.