Mon, October 17, 2022 12:10 p.m.

Adults 50+ are invited to join thousands of their New York peers who have already explored GetSetUp for health and wellness, job training

Submitted by the New York State Bureau of Aging

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) and the Association on Aging in New York (AgingNY) have expanded their partnership with GetSetUp to continue providing free online classes to hundreds of thousands of seniors across the state from New York.

NYSOFA and AgingNY began their partnership with GetSetUp during the pandemic as a solution to address social isolation and bridge the digital divide for older New Yorkers. New Yorkers have since flocked there in droves, with more than 122,000 New York learners taking 169,000 classes in the first year — and growing.

GetSetUp was designed by and for people 50+ to learn new skills, connect with others, and unlock new life experiences. Users can browse and enroll in courses at https://www.getsetup.io/partner/NYSTATE or refer a friend at https://dost.gsudevelopment.com.

NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen said, “GetSetUp has far exceeded our expectations in helping to address social isolation, promote mental and physical well-being, and bridge the digital divide for seniors. The numbers speak for themselves: nearly 200,000 users have been empowered by this user-friendly platform to learn new technologies, improve their health, engage their intellect, connect with others, and share their unique talents, skills and expertise. We are proud to expand this partnership for many more New Yorkers, thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s support in this year’s enacted budget.

In a January survey of GetSetUp users in New York, 94% said they considered the platform a trusted source for learning about advances in healthcare technology. New York users also rate mental engagement, physical fitness, and social engagement as the areas where they have seen the most improvement from GetSetUp courses, giving the courses an average rating of 4.6 stars. out of 5.

Exercise, balance and agility classes are some of the most popular offerings for New York users, including morning fitness, Tai Chi-Shibashi, and Stretch and Destress Yoga classes. The platform also offers hands-on training courses focused on retraining and upskilling for older New Yorkers to access new economic opportunities.

“The social and mental health benefits are reciprocal for users and instructors,” Olsen added. “All classes are taught by older adults who have a background in education or other professional expertise to share with their peers.”

For more information on user experience in New York, download the new report “1 Year of Bridging the Digital Divide and Combatting Social Isolation in New York: A Case Study”.

Newly expanded Spanish language offerings

GetSetUp is excited to offer a range of new courses taught entirely in Spanish that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for Hispanic/Latino learners. Classes include topics on fitness, technology, cooking and nutrition, health and wellness, travel, and more. Learn more about GetSetUp en Español at https://www.getsetup.io/series/gsu-en-espanol.

AgingNY Executive Director Rebecca Preve said, “GetSetUp has been instrumental in addressing social isolation and loneliness for thousands of older New Yorkers. The New York Association on Aging is excited to expand and enhance programs dedicated to supporting elderly residents and their caregivers. Throughout the pandemic, the New York State Office of Aging and Governor Hochul have been focused on mitigating the devastating effects of social isolation, and GetSetUp has proven to provide much-needed relief. The Association on Aging applauds our partners for continuing and expanding such a vital resource for our communities.

GetSetUp Co-Founder Lawrence Kosick said, “We are excited to expand our partnership and services with New York State. We admire how New York has established itself globally as the most senior-friendly state to age in, and the support they’ve fostered in scaling lifelong learning offerings. GetSetUp life to their community of older adults. a safe, fun and interactive way.”

About the New York State Office of Aging

The New York State Office of Aging (NYSOFA) continually strives to help the state’s 4.6 million older adults be as independent as possible for as long as possible through advocacy, development and implementation of people-centred, consumer-oriented and cost-effective policies. , programs and services that support and empower seniors and their families, in partnership with the network of public and private organizations that serve them. Stay connected: Visit the NYSOFA Facebook page; follow @NYSAGING on Twitter and NYSAging on Instagram; or visit aging.ny.gov.

About the Association on Aging in New York

The New York Association on Aging supports and advocates for New York’s Agencies on Aging (AAA), primarily county-based, and works with a network of organizations that exist to promote independence, preserve dignity and provide support to New York residents. condition as they age. For more information, follow on Facebook, visit www.agingny.org or call (518) 449-7080.

About GetSetUp

GetSetUp is on a mission to help people over 55 learn new skills, connect with others, and unlock new life experiences. The social learning platform helps more than 4.6 million older adults in 160 countries stay mentally and physically fit, creates economic opportunity through jobs and retraining, and provides a community where people find a meaning and purpose by sharing knowledge and passions and creating new relationships. Classes are taught by seniors on a highly interactive and personalized video platform where seniors can connect during and between classes. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin. Learn more at https://www.getsetup.io/partner/NYSTATE.