Projects

In March 2024, SeniorFusion launched a new pilot project called, Hear Well, Age Better! The impetus for this project is two-fold: hearing loss among seniors is widespread and largely untreated; and untreated hearing loss can lead to serious health problems, such as balance difficulties and falls, social isolation, and cognitive decline.

Funded by Alameda County Health Care Services Agency and The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation, the study will provide complimentary FDA-approved over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids or personal sound amplification products to low-income seniors and disabled adults with low to moderate hearing loss. The study will measure whether hearing improvement leads to greater social connectivity with family, friends, and the outside world. 

SeniorFusion is partnering with organizational partners including  affordable housing communities, health care  providers, and senior and disability service providers on this endeavor. While we have reached our current capacity, please feel free to email info@seniorfusion.org if you would like more information.

The arrival of COVID-19 and the sheltering-in-place mandate created an urgency for technology solutions to decrease the social isolation of vulnerable older adults. According to an AARP survey, lower income seniors are at even greater risk of loneliness, which in turn makes them more susceptible to heart disease, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and even mortality. 

To address this need, SeniorFusion led a pilot project from November 2022 to December 2023 to help increase social connectivity among 10 underserved seniors “aging in place” or living independently in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

While many seniors are tech savvy, SeniorFusion targeted low-tech seniors who did not use Zoom, Facebook, Skype, FaceTime, or other social media. We partnered with Portland-based ViewClix (https://viewclix.com/) that connects seniors to family and friends through hands-free video calls and photo streaming without the need for usernames, passwords or even touchscreens!

To request a copy of our "SeniorFusion ViewClix Pilot Project: Evaluation Results" document, please email info@seniorfusion.org. SeniorFusion acknowledges The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation for their financial support of this study.