With Smart Speakers, Aspen Public Radio Aims to Help Older Adults Feel More Connected

Aspen Public Radio in Colorado has undertaken a pilot project to help combat loneliness among older adults, reports Current . The project's initial phase intends to provide about 40 smart speakers to people living in four local assisted-living communities. Comcast awarded a $5,000 grant to the station to kickstart the project, and the station is seeking additional grant funding to continue the project after the initial allocation expires. Aspen Public Radio has yet to distribute the speakers, but hopes to connect with long-term care communities to train residents on their use. Executive Director Tammy Terwelp wrote on the station's website that one of her loved ones lives in such a community, and she has seen "how helpful smart speakers have been in combating loneliness." According to Terwelp, smart speakers "can help individuals play public radio, laugh at new jokes, hear interesting news stories daily, and spark curiosity about the world. It literally connects people to our mission." Aspen Public Radio's Lisa DeLosso said as a long-term goal, the station would like to give smart speakers to people outside of assisted-living communities, and to have other stations replicate the project.